MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has relieved two active police officers from their posts after they were accused of allegedly facilitating meetings between the families of missing “sabungeros” and dismissed police personnel linked to the case.

The two officers identified were Highway Patrol Group (HPG) spokesperson Lt. Nadame Malang and Custodial Center warden Maj. Reynaldo Pañebe Jr., who were alleged to have arranged unauthorized visits at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame.

The relief orders took effect on May 20 based on a special order from the HPG and an incident report from the Headquarters Support Service.

“Under the directives of our Chief PNP, General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., our chief Public Information Office in HPG, Lt. Nadame Malang, has been relieved from his post and is now in floating status,” HPG director Brig. Gen. Rommel Batangan said.

Malang has been replaced by Lt. Col. Chitadel Gaoiran as officer-in-charge of the HPG Public Information Office.

PNP-HSS acting chief Brig. Gen. Manuel Abrugena said Pañebe admitted allowing visitors inside the facility but did not identify them.

“According to his explanation to us when we talked to him, there were people who visited our PUPCs (persons under police custody). Now, he did not name them during our conversation with him,” Abrugena said, noting that visiting hours are strictly regulated.

He added, however, that there is still no “solid evidence” confirming that unauthorized visits were actually allowed.

Col. Joemar Felina has been designated as the new custodial facility warden in place of Pañebe.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said the relief of the officers was administrative and not a declaration of guilt.

“Hindi natin sinasabi na agad guilty ‘yung dalawang personnel natin. Ngunit it’s a matter of SOP (standard operating procedure) or proseso natin (We’re not saying that our two personnel are already guilty. But it’s a matter of SOP),” he said.

“Ang ginagawa natin is immediate relief para hindi makaapekto sa ongoing investigation (What we did was an immediate relief to ensure they would not affect the ongoing investigation),” he added.

National Police Commission (Napolcom) Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan also presented five relatives of the victims who filed complaints against the officers, alleging they facilitated meetings between families and former police suspects in the disappearances.

The families claimed they received ₱20,000 to ₱40,000 from a lawyer allegedly representing a prime suspect for transportation and attendance in the meetings.

Napolcom has directed its Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service to probe possible administrative liabilities of the officers involved.