The National Police Commission (Napolcom) is set to present next month “prosecution evidence” in the administrative case against the Maguindanao cops tagged in the massacre in the province nearly seven months ago.

Chief Prosecutor Owen de Luna of Napolcom said Sunday that the trial proper on the administrative charge of grave misconduct filed by the massacre victims’ relatives against the police officers would begin on July 16.

“On that date the prosecution will begin the presentation of evidence against the concerned Philippine National Police (PNP) members,” said De Luna, who is also assistant service chief of the Inspection Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS).

According to De Luna, there are 62 police-respondents in the case but only 51 are detained at the Metro Manila District Jail (MMDJ) building at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. The MMDJ will be the site of the summary dismissal hearings.

“The 11 cops who are not detained there are either absent without official leave (AWOL) or at large. We will be getting a report on their current status from the PNP,” said De Luna.

The same police officers are currently serving a 90-day preventive suspension order from Napolcom, which took effect last May.