Police Minister Defends Commissioner Manning Against Allegations

Police Minister Peter Tsiamalili Defends Commissioner Manning Against Allegations

​Peter Tsiamalili, the Minister for Police, has issued a strong rebuttal to the criminal allegations made against Police Commissioner David Manning by the Opposition, labeling the accusations as unsubstantiated and lacking credible evidence.

"As the Minister for Police, I am addressing the serious criminal allegations made against Police Commissioner David Manning by the Opposition. It is crucial to state that these allegations are unsubstantiated and lack credible evidence," Tsiamalili said.

He acknowledged the gravity of the claims presented by the alleged victim in a widely circulated video but stressed the importance of differentiating between accusations and evidence-based conclusions. "The Opposition's call for Commissioner Manning to step aside is based solely on an allegation without corroborating evidence," he emphasized. "Telling a story does not constitute evidence unless it is supported by facts. To date, no such supporting evidence has been presented to validate the claims made against Commissioner Manning. The principle of 'innocent until proven guilty' is fundamental to our justice system and must be upheld."

Tsiamalili also addressed the Opposition's suggestion that Manning's alleged intimidation of the victim warrants his stepping down. "This assertion remains unverified. It is essential to handle such sensitive matters with due process and not rush to conclusions based on unsubstantiated claims," he noted.

He highlighted that the claims against Manning have been dismissed by the court three times. "Despite this, the Opposition continues to misuse media and abuse public trust to attack the government. This attempt to politicize a matter discredited by the courts is a misuse of public trust. The Opposition's recent press statement did not even name a spokesperson, raising serious questions about the integrity of these claims," Tsiamalili pointed out.

Tsiamalili further accused the Opposition of using sophisticated manipulation in a video circulating on social media, suggesting it was professionally curated to gain attention and timed for political purposes. "The video was professionally curated to gain social media attention and coordinated with their failed attempt at a vote of no confidence. The Opposition must explain why they seek to manipulate and mislead the public through flashy propaganda and misinformation for political gain," he argued.

Additionally, he criticized the Opposition's involvement with an investigative officer who filed court proceedings alongside Johnson Wapunai, which were dismissed. "The attempted abuse of the judicial process by this officer and Wapunai was dismissed by the National Court, which also referred their lawyer to the PNG Law Society for serious breaches of professional conduct," Tsiamalili explained.

Tsiamalili urged the public and the media to respect the court's rulings and refrain from spreading unverified information that can harm reputations and disrupt the functioning of institutions. "Commissioner Manning has a long-standing record of service to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC). Any action taken must be based on verifiable facts and not on uncorroborated allegations," he insisted.

Mr. Tsiamalili emphasized the need to allow due process to take its course. "Commissioner Manning should not be compelled to step down based on unverified claims," he stated. "The Office of the Police Commissioner and the RPNGC remain committed to upholding the law and serving the people of Papua New Guinea with integrity."

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