Latest news with #NationalPoliceCommission
GMA Network
14 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Duterte backs new DCPO chief despite getting left out of selection process
Davao City Acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte will support the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) even if he was not consulted in the selection of the new city police director. Duterte reiterated that he was not given the opportunity to choose from a shortlist of candidates for the city police director position, a process supposedly granted to local chief executives under the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998 (RA 8551). Under Section 64 of the said law, mayors are deputized as representatives of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) within their jurisdictions. 'They won't allow me to choose the city director… nangyari na nga yan last year when I was mayor… the last term when I was mayor,' Duterte said. 'Masyado silang praning… they are scared maybe because these policemen who will be assigned here mga loyalista sa amin and they would not like you know, do dirty work for them,' he added. Despite this, Duterte said he will support the new acting director of DCPO, Col. Mannan Muarip, and his plans for the peace and order in the city, which were discussed during a courtesy call on Monday, July 21, 2025. DCPO has yet to issue a statement regarding Duterte's statements, as of this writing. However, Muarip said earlier that strong cooperation and unity between the local government and the police play an important role in maintaining peace and security in the city.
The Star
19 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Sri Lanka to sack police chief over criminal ties
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's police chief is set to be sacked, the country's speaker of parliament announced Tuesday (July 22) after he was found guilty of heading a criminal network at an impeachment hearing. Inspector-General Deshabandu Tennakoon would become the first head of police in the island's history to be impeached after being deemed unfit to lead its 85,000-strong police force. A three-member committee, appointed by the parliament, unanimously found Tennakoon guilty of the allegations brought against him, said speaker Jagath Wickramaratne. "This marks a historic moment in our constitutional journey, the first time in the history... that such a committee has submitted its findings recommending the removal of an Inspector General of Police". An impeachment vote will be scheduled and is expected to pass in the 225-member parliament, where President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's government holds a two-thirds majority. Tennakoon was appointed police chief in November 2023, despite Sri Lanka's highest court ruling that he had tortured a suspect in custody by rubbing menthol balm on the victim's genitals. He also stands accused of authorising an ill-fated raid in 2023, which triggered a gun battle between rival police units in the coastal resort town of Weligama and led to the death of an officer. Sri Lanka's apex court suspended him in July 2024, pending the outcome of a separate case that questioned the legality of his appointment by former president Ranil Wickremesinghe. A state prosecutor told the court this year that Tennakoon was the "head of a criminal network". This latest move against Tennakoon comes days after the independent National Police Commission sacked the number two officer in the police force, Senior Deputy Inspector General Nilantha Jayawardena. Jayawardena was dismissed for negligence leading to the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed 279 people. - AFP
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Sri Lanka sacks top cop over Easter Sunday bombings
Sri Lanka's independent regulator has sacked a senior police officer for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people including 45 foreigners. The National Police Commission dismissed Nilantha Jayawardena, then head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), for disregarding prior warnings of an impending attack. Court records show that Jayawardena had been alerted to a possible terror strike 17 days before the coordinated suicide attacks on April 21, 2019 which targeted three hotels and three churches. More than 500 people were also wounded in the bombings. Jayawardena had been found guilty on all seven counts of negligence and dereliction of duty by a disciplinary inquiry led by a retired judge, the police commission said in a statement late Saturday. "Considering the gravity of the charges, the Commission decided to give him the maximum punishment," the statement said. Following the Easter bombings, Sri Lanka's worst terror attack on civilians, Jayawardena was removed from his position as SIS chief but was elevated to the role of deputy head of the police force, overseeing administration. However, he was placed on compulsory leave a year ago, pending a disciplinary hearing, after repeated judicial orders to take action against him. A top-level investigation initiated shortly after the attack found that then-president Maithripala Sirisena and four of his senior officials, including Jayawardena, should face criminal prosecution for their lapses
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Top cop fired over 2019 Easter Sunday bombings
THE country's independent regulator has sacked a senior police officer for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people including 45 foreigners. The National Police Commission dismissed Nilantha Jayawardena, then head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), for disregarding prior warnings of an impending attack by Islamic extremists. Court records show that Jayawardena had been alerted to a possible terror strike 17 days before the coordinated suicide attacks on April 21, 2019, which targeted three hotels and three churches. More than 500 people were also wounded in the bombings. Jayawardena had been found guilty on all seven counts of negligence and dereliction of duty by a disciplinary inquiry led by a retired judge, the police commission said late Saturday. 'Considering the gravity of the charges, the Commission decided to give him the maximum punishment,' the statement said. Following the Easter bombings, Sri Lanka's worst terror attack on civilians, Jayawardena was removed from his position as SIS chief but elevated to the role of deputy head of the police force, overseeing administration. However, he was placed on compulsory leave a year ago, pending a disciplinary hearing, after repeated judicial orders to take action against him. A top-level investigation initiated shortly after the attack found that then-president Maithripala Sirisena and four of his senior officials, including Jayawardena, should face criminal prosecution for their lapses. In accordance with Supreme Court orders issued in January 2023 following a civil case, they have paid just over US$1mil in damages to the victims. The 2019 bombings were blamed on a local group that pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. Sri Lanka's new government, under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has vowed to step up investigations into the Easter attacks and uncover those responsible for the bombings. — AFP
The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Sri Lanka sacks senior cop over 2019 Easter Sunday bombings
Senior Deputy Inspector-General Nilantha Jayawardena. - File pic COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's independent regulator has sacked a senior police officer for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people including 45 foreigners. The National Police Commission dismissed Senior Deputy Inspector-General Nilantha Jayawardena, then head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), for disregarding prior warnings of an impending attack by Islamic extremists. Court records show that Jayawardena had been alerted to a possible terror strike 17 days before the coordinated suicide attacks on April 21, 2019, which targeted three hotels and three churches. More than 500 people were also wounded in the bombings. Jayawardena had been found guilty on all seven counts of negligence and dereliction of duty by a disciplinary inquiry led by a retired judge, the police commission said in a statement late on Saturday (July 19). 'Considering the gravity of the charges, the commission decided to give him the maximum punishment,' the statement said. Men carrying portraits of victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings as they mark the sixth anniversary of the attacks in Colombo on April 21. - Photo: AFP Following the Easter bombings, Sri Lanka's worst terror attack on civilians, Jayawardena was removed from his position as SIS chief but was elevated to the role of deputy head of the police force, overseeing administration. However, he was placed on compulsory leave a year ago, pending a disciplinary hearing, after repeated judicial orders to take action against him. A top-level investigation initiated shortly after the attack found that then President Maithripala Sirisena and four of his senior officials, including Jayawardena, should face criminal prosecution for their lapses. In accordance with Supreme Court orders issued in January 2023 following a civil case, they have paid just over one million dollars in damages to the victims. The 2019 bombings were blamed on a local extremist group that pledged allegiance to ISIS. Sri Lanka's new government, under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has vowed to step up investigations into the Easter attacks and uncover those responsible for the bombings. - AFP
