2 Americans file complaint against 8 IDMB cops

CEBU, Philippines - Two American nationals yesterday filed criminal and administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas against eight policemen assigned at the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO).

The respondents are Investigation and Detective Management Branch’s (IDMB) chief George Ylanan, PO3 Cesar Pandong, PO3 Vilma Abayan, PO2 Roy Carlo Veloso, PO1 Albert Luardo, PO1 Frederick Ybañez, an unidentified male police officer at the IDMB and PO2 Lucita Custodio of the CCPO’s women and children’s protection desk.

Michael Lopez and Andre Breeding, both residents of Cebu City, filed the case against the officers for arbitrary detention, kidnapping, soliciting or accepting bribe, abuse of authority and conduct unbecoming of a law enforcement officer.

“The police officers had committed numerous services violations of departmental policy and the law and for this reason, and for the safety of the community at large, complainants request a formal investigation immediately,” read their complaint.

The complaint was their counter-charge against the officers after they were earlier charged for violation of Republic Act 7610 or the law against child abuse.

Judge Bienvenido Saniel, Jr. had dismissed the complaint against the two American nationals after the complainant failed to appear in court for the trial.

Lopez and Breeding said they were arrested by the police officers on December 3, 2009 inside a hotel.

The police said there was a complaint filed against the two, who were found in the hotel allegedly with an under-aged girl.

Lopez and Breeding said they were merely visiting an American friend who was registered in one of the rooms in the hotel.

But the police officers pushed them inside the room as they insisted to go out. Their American friend, Perry McNeely, asked the police how much money they wanted but the officers reportedly said they have to wait for their superior, Ylanan.

“They again insisted we must go inside the room in order for this to be settled and that we had nothing to worry about as long as we cooperate,” the complainants said.

They further claimed that they were harassed and intimidated inside the room, as well as threatened with force should they make a noise or attempt to escape.

While inside the room, one of the police officers called Ylanan allegedly to make a decision on how much money they would take.

The complainants said they were taken to the CCPO from the hotel and were told not to talk to media or else the police will make up other charges.

Moreover, they said their lawyer, Leilani Villarino, asked P200,000 to be paid to the police officers and also as bond for their child abuse case.

But the complainants said their bond was set only at P24,000 while the police asked for P200,000 which they refused to give.

The two American nationals said that during the hearing, a friend of theirs sent someone to confirm the lawyer’s claim, and found that what Villarino and the police did was an “attempt for extortion.” – (FREEMAN)