The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday ordered the Eastern Visayas regional police and the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) to place under restrictive custody seven police personnel charged by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over the death of Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino.

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar vowed that they will not shield the cops from murder and frustrated murder complaints filed against them.

Eleazar said he has directed the concerned police officials and personnel to make themselves available for any investigation on the incident, including a Senate inquiry.

“I also directed the Regional Director, Police Regional Office 8 and Director, Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) to place implicated PNP personnel under their restrictive custody,” he said.

“They will face the charges filed against them. I assured that the PNP will not cover for this policemen who are involved in the death of Mayor Aquino," he said.

Eleazar said they will let the cases take its course in the proper forum.

On Thursday, NBI filed murder and frustrated murder complaints in the Department of Justice (DOJ) against seven police officers.

The NBI based its conclusion on 53 statements, CCTV footage of the incident, and information from cellphones they had obtained.

Aquino and his companions were shot to death on Laboyao Bridge in Barangay Lonoy last March 8.

A whistleblower, Master Sergeant Jose Jay Scenario, claimed that Aquino’s political rival had coordinated with PNP personnel to obtain a search warrant against the mayor and tag him as the protector of a policeman involved in the illegal drug trade.

The cop also alleged that the ambush on the mayor had long been planned. Ella Dionisio/DMS