PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) spokespersons Dionardo Carlos clarified Tuesday that Superintendent Marvin Marcos, the police official tagged in the killing of former Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa, was not reinstated but reverted to active duty status.
"Just to clarify po, si Superintendent Marvin Marcos ay back-to-duty status because of the lifting of his leave of absence," Carlos said.
He said Marcos and his men were reverted to active duty status after the court downgraded to homicide, a bailable offense, the murder cases filed against them in relation to the killing of Espinosa.
Marcos reported to his new assignment as head of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in the Soccsksargen last Monday, while his 15 men were deployed to Central Visayas and Mindanao.
Carlos said Marcos and his men were eligible to be reverted to full active duty after the court allowed them to post bail.
The PNP spokesperson said that reinstatement may only be given to policemen who were dismissed from the service.
"Because of the downgrading murder to homicide, giving him the opportunity to post bail and have a temporary liberty, it caused us to automatically lift the leave of absence and put him (Marcos) back into duty status. He is still charged criminally for the crime of homicide in a criminal court and their group will, therefore, appear before the court and defend themselves," he said.
Carlos meanwhile denied that President Rodrigo Duterte, who earlier said he wants Marcos "reinstated" in the police service, has a hand in Marcos' revert to active duty status.
"We are following a standard procedure giving due process to this policeman charged for various offenses and therefore the procedure is through the investigation of Internal Affairs. And the decision was based on the affidavit, counter-affidavit and other evidence presented before the investigative body and it is not the opinion, commentary or other findings are not presented before that body," he said.
The spokesperson said the resolution in the administrative case against the policemen is yet to be issued.
"(The) Internal Affairs submitted a decision for suspension, demotion against their group. This decision is now on a motion for reconsideration (MR) and appeal by their group. That is why the implementation of the sanction is still on hold. Once the MR or the appeal is resolved, the implementation will push through," Carlos said. (VoxPop Philippines)
