CEBU, Philippines – The policemen who were accused of burning the fence of an illegal cockpit arena and several private stores in barangay Talamban on Maunday Thursday may avail of free legal service from the city’s legal consultants.
Acting city mayor Michael Rama said yesterday that the city’s legal consultants headed by former city councilor Manuel Legazpi have already agreed to provide free legal assistance to police officers who are facing charges in court in line with the performance of their duties.
“We can provide free legal assistance to the concerned police officers, why not. I will ask former councilor Legazpi to look into the case so the city legal consultants will know how they can help the police,” Rama said.
The acting mayor also said he had instructed city police director Patrocinio Comendador to investigate the incident to find out whether the policemen’s burning of the fence of the illegal cockpit is still within the bounds of the law.
Rama said he is strongly against any kind of illegal gambling and he even called up the police to conduct operations against “tigbakay” during the Holy Week and he was happy to learn that his order was properly implemented.
Comendador had earlier defended his men’s burning of the arena’s fence, saying it was only meant to send a strong message to people to stop the illegal gambling.
But while the owners of the shanties that were allegedly torched by the cops announced their plan to seek legal action, the police is also contemplating to file criminal charges against one Rico Dionson for allegedly organizing the illegal cockfighting.
Comendador said that he already received reports in previous years that Dionson was involved in illegal cockfighting. With this, he directed the chief of police of Talamban to gather all the evidences to prove the said allegation.
Dionson has however denied the allegations and challenged the police to come up with evidence. He also asked why the police did not arrest him if he was indeed the one who organized the illegal cockfight during the raid.
Comendador said the raid was conducted in response to the complaint of the barangay officials against the illegal gambling activity. Talamban barangay officials headed by barangay captain Alvin Arcilla has passed a resolution to stop the illegal cockfighting in the area.
He however said that he still has to verify if the burning of stalls nearby were really done by the police operatives, adding they would welcome any legal action from the residents.
According to Comendador, last Thursday’s operation was not the first time the police conducted a raid against illegal cockfighting in Talamban and other barangays in the city.
The police official even revealed that illegal cockfighting is most rampant in barangay Talamban, the reason why the police and the barangay officials are working together to eliminate it.
Dionson, owner of Rico’s Lechon that is located in the area, admitted he actively join the betting during cockfights, but denied he was the one who organized it.
He said he is not questioning the burning of the cockpit because it was illegal but added it was unbecoming of the police operatives, particularly those from the SWAT team, to burn the tables and chairs in the nearby stalls. He added this happened after the police discovered that the tires of their two patrol cars were damaged.
Lawyer Noel Archival, who represents store owners Elena Jaime, Emmanuel Seno and Narciso Cuesta, said they would file a case directly to the Ombudsman Military in Manila today.
Administrative charges that would be filed are gross incompetency, oppression and dishonesty and arson for the criminal case.
“Saludo ko ni Comendador sa iyang pagkamaayo nga polis, legitimate man tuod ang ilang pag pangraid pero sayop lang sila sa pagsunog sa ebidensya. Sunogon diay nang ebidensya?” Archival said. — Rene U. Borromeo and Christopher Gabriel Bonjoc/WAB (THE FREEMAN)