For defending drug suspect: Labra criticizes councilor for giving legal assistance

Extending legal assistance to a recently arrested drug-using suspect drew some flak for councilor Gerry Carillo from a police official.

After Mayor Tomas Osmeña the other day warned Carillo from using his influence in defending a drug suspect, Supt. Paul Labra, head of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, yesterday criticized the act of the councilor.

Labra yesterday said that even if Carillo is a lawyer by profession, his being a public official should have restrained himself from assisting a drug suspect, out of delicadeza (courtesy).

Labra said Carillo, for whatever reason he had in helping the suspect, should have worked together with the law enforcers instead in the campaign against illegal drugs.

Carillo, for his part, assured that he would not use his office to influence the results of the case, saying he helped arrested suspect Ronald Dimaisip, pro bono, because he believed the man is innocent and that the arresting officers made a mistake.

Ronald is the husband of Carillo's close friend and election campaigner. Last January 27, tanods from barangay Busay arrested Ronald and a certain JP Cabahug during a fiesta celebration.

Ronald and JP were manning a sound system at the time. When JP was arrested for alleged possession of marijuana sticks, Ronald allegedly tried to interfere so the tanods arrested him also as an alleged accomplice of JP.

The councilor said his legal services will be limited only to assisting Ronald while in police custody and that he would no longer represent the latter in court.

Carillo said he has been a strong advocate also in the anti-drug campaign but he also believed that the innocent should not be imprisoned.

Carillo earlier said that the law allows city council members to practice their profession unless the case is against the council itself, or the local government. - Flor Z. Perolina