Arrested worker sues cop, picketing workers

CEBU, Philippines – A Mandaue City police official and at least three members of the Associated Labor Unions picketing the Chagrin Incorporated in Barangay Pagsabungan were criminally charged before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas for alleged violation of the rights of an arrested person and grave misconduct.

Dante Librea, 26, of Casili, Consolacion and Jesus Ebrara, 22, of Yati, Liloan filed the complaint yesterday before the anti-graft office against Police Senior Inspector Rex Lumente, chief of the Mandaue City Police Station 3, Arnold Arcipe, Jorge Ente and Rommel Uy, all members of ALU, and several others who are yet to be identified.

Librea and Ebrara accused Lumente and the union members of violations of the Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code and Republic Act 7438 when they were arrested on July 17 but were not informed of their rights and were not immediately delivered to the judiciary.

According to Librea, he was asked by Agustin Torres if he is interested to work at Chagrin Inc. in Pagsabungan, Mandaue City. Since he was a skilled worker, out of work and had many children, he grabbed the opportunity.

Librea said that Torres told him about the strikers picketing in front of the factory. At around, 8:00 p.m. of that same day, Librea was instructed by Torres to report to Chagrin using the service vehicle provided by the company.

However, Librea missed the vehicle prompting him to hire Ebrara, a habal-habal driver, to take him to the company.

Librea said that when they arrived at the place they noticed the picketing workers gathered in front of the gate of Chagrin, blocking its entrance. Since he noticed that something violent had happened, Librea and Ebrara decided to stop at a distance of about 50 meters away from the strikers.

Librea said he then received a call from Torres who instructed him not to report anymore because the strikers are blocking the entrance. However, his conversation with Torres was allegedly heard by the strikers.

They were approached by the members of ALU and were placed under citizens’ arrest for alleged conspiracy in committing grave threats, illegal discharge of firearms and physical injuries.

They were turned over to the police led by Lumente and were brought to the police station where they were locked up for more than 60 hours. The complainants alleged that during their detention they were never apprise of their rights and the reasons why they were arrested in violation of the R.A. 7438.

Not only that their rights under custodial investigation were violated, the respondents allegedly violated Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code for the delay in the filing of charges against them. (THE FREEMAN)