Family of arrested fugitive cries foul, says police were “too harsh” on him

CEBU, Philippines - The family of a fugitive arrested after his wedding in Ronda last Saturday has cried foul and accused the police of being “too harsh and inhuman.”

Angelito Tanaid was arrested by a team of policemen from Argao in front of family and friends at the Our Lady of Sorrows Parish Church immediately after he exchanged vows with his live-in partner for 10 years.

The police were armed with arrest warrant issued by the court against Tanaid for four counts of frustrated murder.

Hazel Villamater, Tanaid’s sister-in-law, said the police were very harsh on the accused. Villamater said the police should have waited the accused outside of the church.

“Sulod gyud siya sa simbahan (gidakop) wala gyud siya gipagawas, dapat gawas gyud sa simbahan wala gyud sa sulod ba,” she said.

Chief Inspector Alejandro Batobalonos, Argao police chief, said there was nothing wrong in their serving the warrant of arrest inside the church.

Batobalonos said they did the right thing since Tanaid has a standing warrant of arrest. According to him, they only made sure that the accused could no longer elude arrest, saying that he had been very elusive. In fact, Tanaid had reportedly eluded arrest for five times already.

“Hadlok sad me nga maka-eskapo sa bukid kalima na ni namo nga giadto sa bukid, bisan sa bintana molayat siya, sa pang-pang molayat siya kay lagi di siya padakop,” he added.

Batobalonos said they saw the wedding as the perfect opportunity for them to make the arrest.

“So amo na lang siyang gisiguro gyud kay higayon na man gyud to, idlas lagi na siya, kay wala lagi siyay ika-pyansa nga eighty thousand pesos,” Batobalonos said.

Tanaid’s family yesterday went to see Supt. Renato Malazarte, deputy provincial director for administration, to express their sentiments on the manner the arrest was done.

Malazarte, however, explained to them that the arresting officers were just doing their job.

“Sa part sa police trabaho lang siguro ilaha, dakop lang, sa gi-arresto kahibawo man siya  nga dakponon  siya,” he said.

He explained that once a warrant of arrest is issued an accused could be arrested “anytime and anywhere.”

Malazarte has advised the family of the accused to seek the assistance of the Public Attorney’s Office to help them in the case. (FREEMAN)