Ito ay matapos sumulat si Police Lieutenant Fernando Calabria sa Calbayog Regional Trial Court para humingi ng listahan ng mga abogado na nagrerepresenta sa mga personalidad na identified sa Communist Party of the Philippines.
“I immediately ordered a thorough investigation to determine all the circumstances that prompted Police Lieutenant Fernando G Calabria, Jr. to do so,” ayon sa pahayag ni Eleazar.
Sa inisyal na imbistigasyon, napag-alaman na inatasan si Calabria na gumawa ng kumprehensibong ulat sa sitwasyon ng communist insurgency sa Calbayog City.
“The pressure of crafting a detailed report apparently took a toll on him and eventually prompted him to commit a serious breach of policy,” ani Eleazar.
“In view of these initial findings and in consultation with our Chief PNP, Police General Debold M. Sinas, I have already directed the relief of PLt Calabria as the Chief of the Intelligence Unit of the Calbayog City Police Station,” dagdag niya.
Ang nasabing insidente ay binatikos ng Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
Ayon kay IBP President Domingo Cayosa, ang ginawang pagsulat ni Calabria sa RTC ay hindi tama dahil binabalewala nito ang kalayaan ng mga abugado na ipagtanggol ang sinuman sa korte, anuman ang kanilang pampulitikang pananaw at ideolohiya.
“The letter disregards the very basic principle that lawyers are free and even duty-bound to represent those accused regardless of political or ideological persuasions so that their rights are protected, due process is observed, justice is done, and that the rule of law is upheld,” ayon kay Cayosa.
“Lawyers therefore should not be suspected, discriminated against, faulted, red-tagged, or attacked for doing their professional duty. The letter is improper, deplorable, and alarming,” dagdag pa niya.
Sinabi rin ni Eleazar na iniimbistigahan pa nila kung hanggang anong antas sa police hierarchy ang may kaugnayan sa insidente.
“What is certain at this point is that the PNP top brass did not issue any order pertaining to that, and will never tolerate such unprofessional method of information-gathering,” aniya.
“We fully understand the sentiments of the members of the legal community and for this, I, on behalf of the men and women of the Philippine National Police, sincerely apologize for this reckless behavior.”