Trader says Alcoy cops illegally arrested him

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices has ordered four policemen of the Alcoy Police Station to answer the complaints filed by a businessman engaged in buying and selling livestock.

Charges for unlawful arrest, arbitrary detention, robbery and grave misconduct were filed by Jose Earl Plando against PO2 Raniel Cartin and PO1s Gerlito Estremos, Leon Glesim and Abraham Quijano, all assigned to the Alcoy Police Station.

In an order dated December 9, 2011, Ombudsman Director Dennis Garcia found the complaint as sufficient in form and substance prompting him to direct the complainants to file their counter-affidavits.

The complaints were earlier charged by Plando before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas but the anti-graft office forwarded it to the Ombudsman for the Military in Manila.

Plando alleged that he was arrested and detained without investigation to prove that he helped steal the goats of his neighbor Luz Jackson last year.

In an affidavit, witness Edward Abanilla said the policemen allegedly forced him to point to Plando and Amelito Estillore as the ones who stole the goats.

Abanilla said he told the police that he had no knowledge about the identity of the suspects, but to his surprise the policemen reportedly got angry and forced him to implicate Plando and Estillore.

“The two police investigators advised and forced me to tell a lie in order to evade possible prosecution. Due to threatening remarks by the policemen that bothered me, I was confused, that’s why I was forced to tell a lie during the interrogation,” Abanilla’s affidavit reads.

He said the policemen had promised to help him return home to Tanjay City, Negros Oriental if he cooperated.

Cartin said Plando’s arrest and detention were not illegal because a witness pointed to him as one of those responsible for the crime.  (FREEMAN)