VS 2 LTO men, 15 TF Alpha: Robbery, unlawful arrest filed

CEBU, Philippines - A complaint for unlawful arrest, grave coercion, robbery, grave misconduct and falsification were filed before the Office of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) yesterday against a certain Mendaros, two unidentified LTO agents and 15 unidentified members of the Task Force Alpha.

Jose Cala Romero, a Filipino-American doctor and a balikbayan, said that on March 1, 2013 while driving a Starex Van with his four friends, they were flagged down by a person on a motorcycle.

Surprised and shocked as he did not know why they were stopped, Romero said he continued driving along the Mactan circumferential road from Lapu-Lapu City to Cebu City to have dinner.

“Surprised by that act, I continued on and did not bother, however, I noticed that four motorcycles overtook me and stayed in front of me while I noticed that three motorcycle-driving individuals stayed beside the van. At that time I was afraid and thought immediately that these persons were kidnappers and thugs so I did not stop the van,” the affidavit reads.

Because the motorcycle suddenly stopped, Romero said he was forced to stop. Two unidentified men approached him and asked for his driver’s license and registration while the others surrounded the van.

He said because he was afraid, he was forced to give his driver’s license. He added that he did not know why they were “flagged down.”

The vehicle he was driving was owned by Maria Grizelda Tan with plate number YAB-858.

Romero further said that he told the unidentified men that he just borrowed the vehicle from Tan but one person demanded for the vehicle’s license plates. He protested but the unidentified persons still got it.

“After taking the plates, another unidentified person rammed a ticket for me to sign and just to prevent further trouble considering that it was nighttime and all along we were thinking that my friends and I were in danger, I just signed it,” the affidavit further reads.

Romero said the agents and others falsified the entry in the ticket they issued against him that he voluntarily surrendered the plates which he did not. He added that he was a victim of harassment and coercion by the abovementioned persons.

He claimed that he was not renting the car.

Lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna and associates filed the complaint in behalf of their clients Tan and Romero and demanded the return of vehicle’s license plates and the list of names of the agents. —/JPM (FREEMAN)