The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) revealed on Tuesday that an initial validation established significant procedural lapses in the police investigation into the fatal road accident of a high school teacher in Naga City.
As a result, three police officers—including the investigator-on-case, the station commander, and the acting city police chief—are facing administrative investigations.
The administrative cases stem from the September 20 death of Jao Francis Mancera, a teacher at Camarines Sur National High School. Mancera was crossing a pedestrian lane along a highway when he was struck by a vehicle driven by Grace Abejero, who was subsequently charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.
Citing findings from a validation conducted by NAPOLCOM-Bicol, the commission noted that the investigator-on-case, Police Staff Sergeant Jaymar Sierra of the Naga City Police Station, committed multiple investigative oversights.
Sierra reportedly failed to secure affidavits from key witnesses, including the driver’s companions, and omitted crucial documents during inquest proceedings, such as the official investigation report, site sketches, and crime scene photographs.
Additionally, NAPOLCOM noted that Sierra failed to conduct a sobriety or alcohol test on the driver, failed to secure and submit available CCTV footage during inquest proceedings, failed to file the case within the prescribed period, and allowed the unauthorized release of the involved vehicle.
“In view of the findings, PSSG Jaymar A. Sierra, the investigator-on-case, is now being subjected to a motu proprio administrative investigation for possible grave neglect of duty and incompetence,” NAPOLCOM stated.
Sierra’s immediate supervisor, Station 3 Commander Captain Sarah San Buenaventura, is also under administrative investigation for grave neglect of duty under the doctrine of command responsibility. Furthermore, NAPOLCOM stated that acting Naga City Police Office chief Col. Rizaldy Caballero Jr. “will likewise be subjected to appropriate administrative action by the commission in relation to the findings of the validation.”
NAPOLCOM Vice Chairman and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan assured the public that the motu proprio administrative investigation will proceed impartially.
“The only way for people to believe in our investigation is by giving them the truth of what really happened,” Calinisan said, emphasizing that no officer will be spared from accountability regardless of rank or position.