The Philippine National Police on Wednesday announced that it has relieved from duty two police officers who allegedly leaked a video showing the body of late actor Ronaldo Valdez who died over the weekend.
PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo said the relieved policemen were the first responder and the responder's station commander.
"I've just talked with the district director and he has ordered the relief of the first responder and the station commander to look into their liability," said Fajardo in a press briefing.
She added that the police officers — who are now being held at the Quezon City Police District holding unit pending investigation — could face administrative and criminal complaint.
"This is a regrettable incident that shouldn't have gone viral on social media," Fajardo said, adding such video should only be strictly used for "documentation purposes."
"If the video was shot by our first responders for documentation purposes, we will not have a problem," she added.
Fajardo also said the QCPD is already coordinating with the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group to identify those who shared the video on social media.
"I don't want to preempt the ongoing investigation but suffice it to say that I've been told by the QCPD district director that they are coordinating with the ACG to identify those who shared the video," the PNP spokesperson said.
Meantime, QCPD chief Police Brigadier General Rederico Maranan said that criminal and administrative charges will be filed against those who are involved in the circulating of video of Valdez.
He said this is in compliance with the instruction of Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte to conduct an in-depth investigation and file cases against those who are responsible for making the video public.
Based on the initial investigation, it was found out that the said video was taken by PS 11 personnel who was then the first responder at the crime scene. Based on the initial investigation of Quezon City Anti Cyber Crime Team, another personnel of PS 11 posted the said video in their Viber group while three civilian Facebook accounts were identified as the first to upload the video and compilation of photos of the incident in Facebook.