Woman says PDEA agents "stole" her laptop, cellphone

CEBU, Philippines – A 25-year-old woman is set to file charges against members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 after accusing them of stealing her laptop computer and cellular phone last week along A. Lopez Street, barangay Calamba, Cebu City, during a buy-bust operation conducted by the unit.

Nerisa Doncillo, an employee of SM Supermart, went to the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Cebu City Police Office yesterday to report about the incident and expressed determination in filing the appropriate charge against elements of PDEA-7.

Doncillo alleged to the police and reporters that she was on her way home around 10:15 p.m. when she saw a shoe mark on the main door and discovered that her lock had been destroyed.

She learned from a witness that members of PDEA-7 barged into her house around 8:45 p.m. after an asset told them that an alleged street pusher who was the subject of their buy-bust operation, a certain Rico Rama, went inside her house.

Upon double checking, Doncillo found out that her new laptop worth over P44,000 and second-hand cellphone worth P2,500 in the second floor of her house were missing. She also saw shoe prints on the tiles indicating that someone had entered her house.

Doncillo refrained from erasing the shoe prints to allegedly preserve evidence to show to the investigators. She also presented yesterday pictures of the shoe marks and the destroyed lock which were taken by a barangay councilman.

The complainant alleged that she met with PDEA-7 the following day to settle the matter but the latter completely denied stealing the said items and so she went to the IDMB.

SPO1 Alfredo Petallar said that they are still studying what charges may be filed against the members of PDEA-7 who were involved in the incident as they were still preparing the affidavits of both parties yesterday.

PDEA-7 deputy director Yogi Filemon Ruiz, who led the buy-bust operation, said that the house which allegedly really entered by Rama was just adjacent to Doncillo’s house and they entered Doncillo’s house by mistake.

He denied taking the said items and said he never went up the second floor.

“Wala na mi misaka. Pagkahibaw namo nga dili diay ‘to balay ni Rama, mi-pullout mi dayon,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz said that there was a gap of about three hours between their entry and when Doncillo arrived and so somebody could have gotten inside Doncillo’s house and stolen the items.

Ruiz also said that Doncillo alleged to them that a lot of people line up in front of the gate of her compound to buy and use drugs.

With this, Ruiz said, they will file a charge against Doncillo for maintaining a drug den on the basis of her own admission. — Niña G. Sumacot/BRP (THE FREEMAN)