3 cops relieved over leak of Ronaldo Valdez video
By Cynthia Montojo
“We will file administrative and criminal complaints,” Quezon City Police District Director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan ordered relief of Senior M/Sgt. Wilfredo Calinao, Cpl. Romel Rosales and QCPD Station 11 commander Lt. Col. Reynante Parlade.
police officers were removed from their posts in connection with leaked video showed body of late actor Ronaldo Valdez.
Maranan said Calinao was first responder who took video of Valdez, which later went viral on social media platforms.
Maranan did not mince words when asked about Calinao’s actions.
“If you are first responder, your job is just to secure scene…you should not be taking video,” he said.
Investigation of Valdez’s death is function of police officers of QCPD’s criminal investigation and detection unit, Maranan stressed.
Investigation is underway to determine how video made its way to Facebook and other social media platforms.
Parlade, meanwhile, was relieved based on doctrine of command responsibility.
Rosales was one who posted video in their Viber group chat.
Police have also tracked down three civilians who posted copy of video on Facebook. They face criminal charges for violating Republic Act 10175 or Cybercrime Prevention Act and RA 10173, data privacy law.
Col. Jean Fajardo, PNP public information officer, urged netizens to refrain from sharing video on their social media accounts.
“It was not intended to be shared. Let us respect the privacy of the victim and his family,” she said.
Quezon City Mayor Ma. Josefina “Joy” Belmonte-Alimurung condemned the leak of video.
Describing it as breach of privacy and basic human decency, Belmonte directed Maranan to conduct investigation against all police personnel involved at scene with corresponding sanctions to those at fault.
“Police procedures, including evidence collection, should be meticulously recorded without violating principles of trust, professionalism and confidentiality that our law enforcers should uphold,” she said.
Valdez, 76, died at his home in Quezon City on Dec. 17. Cause of his death has yet to be released, with QCPD vowing to conduct thorough investigation.
Belmonte urged Filipinos to refrain from sharing leaked video. She also expressed her condolences to the family and friends of the late actor.
“Let us respect privacy and dignity of the late actor and his family in this time of intense grief… highly distasteful for anyone to use sad and unfortunate demise of individual to gain social media mileage and popularity,” she concluded.
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