Mangaoang to file case against Mandaue cops

Customs district collector Lourdes Mangaoang is determined to file charges against Supt. Emanuel Ughoc of the Mandaue City police for the illegal apprehension of a 40-foot van containing three right-hand drive vehicles.

She said that nothing in the PNP charter allows them to perform the functions of the Bureau of Customs and Ughoc erred in seizing the van and applying a search warrant to open as they did not have personal knowledge about the contents of the van.

She is also mulling filing charges against Regional Trial Court judge Ulric Cañete who issued the warrant.

But Cañete issued another order directing the police to turn over the van to the Bureau of Customs, which has jurisdiction over imported cargoes.

Two weeks ago a prime mover was flagged down by the Mandaue police for violating traffic, but Ughoc held the van because they were reportedly tipped off that it had been stolen from the Cebu International Port.

But Mangaoang questioned their failure to inform the bureau about the van until they opened it two days later upon order of the court.