Support for Bayarcal

CEBU, Philippines - At least 106 officers and members of the city police signed a manifesto to support controversial traffic police chief Andres Bayarcal who is under fire for arresting a lawyer who called him “ignorant of the law.”

Among those who signed the manifesto are Supt. Pablo Labra II, deputy city police director, and Chief Insp. George Ylanan, chief of the Investigation and Detection Management Bureau. The signatories are members of Cebu’s Finest brotherhood.

The signatories claimed to have a “common bond of ideals and vision towards a peaceful society through a police organization composed of men with unquestionable faith, unshaken loyalty and unbridled principle.”

Members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines have condemned the arrest of fellow lawyer Danilo Pilapil at the traffic group office last September 11. Bayarcal arrested Pilapil for calling him “ignorant of the law” for refusing to release Pilapil’s client.

Pilapil had demanded the immediate release of his client who figured in a traffic accident in barangay Busay, which resulted to the death of the victim. Bayarcal, however, refused to heed Pilapil’s demand, which resulted to an argument between them.

Pilapil then berated Bayarcal by calling him “ignorant of the law,” which prompted the police official to place the lawyer under arrest.

“The act of the lawyer by berating Police Chief Inspector Andres Selaro Bayarcal who was only performing his duty in the best light of his profession desecrates not only the police officer concerned but also the entire Cebu City Police station as an organization,” the manifesto reads.

The signatories said Bayarcal was right in standing his ground because he was sustained by the prosecutor’s office when a case for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide was eventually filed against Pilapil’s client.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Cebu earlier passed a resolution condemning the act of Bayarcal. – Fred P. Languido/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)