Facade of the Department of Interior and Local Government - NAPOLCOM Center in Quezon City, May 19, 2020. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File
MANILA — Members of progressive youth group Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (Spark) on Monday staged a protest in front of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) office in Quezon City, calling for an investigation into the loss of mobile phones belonging to their members during a September 21 protest.
The group said one of the missing phones was later tracked through its location feature to the Philippine National Police headquarters, and eventually to a buy-and-sell shopping center in Greenhills, San Juan.
Spark's Sophie Reyes, who led the protest, said Napolcom has yet to provide an update or response to the formal complaint they filed on September 23.
"Kung malinis at inosente ang MPD [Manila Police District], ang mga units nila, bakit hindi nagsasagawa ng imbestigasyon? Bakit hindi patunayan," Reyes told ABS-CBN News in an interview.
"Unresponsive po talaga sila ngayon," she added.
According to Reyes, two mobile phones went missing following a heated confrontation with police during a Martial Law anniversary rally in Manila on September 21.
She said the two phones are separate from another mobile phone that the Manila Police District acknowledged it had confiscated during an apprehension, but was later turned over to a legal representative.
"Suspicious na sa Camp Crame lumitaw itong isa. Hindi man namin ma-prove na iisang tao 'yong nagnakaw ng parehong cellphone dahil walang GPS 'yong isa, telling na agad na sa Camp Crame lumitaw," Reyes said.
Napolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Calinisan said he is currently attending a United Nations convention in Abu Dhabi, but has already instructed the body's Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS) "to look into the matter." He said he is now awaiting feedback.
Meantime, MPD spokesperson Maj. Philipp Ines said the police district was not aware of the two missing phones and only learned about the matter through the press release.
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