Four policemen face charges for illegal arrest, detention

CEBU - A retired police official and three policemen have been charged with unlawful arrest and illegal detention before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office yesterday for allegedly arresting without warrant a man last November 29.

Maricel Taborada, a resident of Consolacion town, filed charges yesterday against retired police Supt. Lamberto Alilin, PO3 Lolito Dinampo, PO3 Norberto Cejas, and PO3 Sherwin Leyson for allegedly illegally detaining her husband, Giovanni, last November 30.

In her sworn statement, Maricel said that she and her husband were busy entertaining guests outside of their house who came to celebrate with them the town fiesta when a Tamaraw FX apparently rolled back and hit their wooden fence.

Taborada said that their house is situated on a hilly portion of barangay Casili. Since the driver of the FX had a hard time negotiating the road on the hilly part while the vehicle was on its way to the national road, it rolled back and hit the wooden fence.

A bystander reportedly confronted the driver and told him to be “extra careful in driving next time” as there is a number of visitors in the area.

Maricel said nobody could give any information on the identity of the bystander.

She said she saw Alilin got off from the vehicle and argued with the bystander. After that, Alilin left but came back with three men in plain clothes identified to be Dinampo, Cejas, and Leyson of the Consolacion Police Station.

Maricel said the four “demanded to know the identity” of the said bystander, but none of them know the man.

In the process, Alilin arrested Giovanni without any warrant.

Maricel narrated that her husband was taken by the policemen to the police station and was held in custody until November 30. — Jasmin R. Uy/MEEV(THE FREEMAN)