Foreigner denies paying police chief for his release

CEBU, Philippines - The arrested Ghanaian national who allegedly paid a police official P50,000 in exchange for his release appeared before the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch Friday afternoon to clear his name.

Suspect Alexander Painstil, of Daanbantayan town, went to PIDMB and submitted his sworn affidavit stating that he never gave even a single penny to Compostela police chief Samuel Romanillos.

Painstil even voluntarily submitted himself to a drug test where he tested negative for drug use.

“Kung marijuana man gani, dili na mu-detect sa drug test. Mas maayo unta ‘to kung blood test gyud, but we cannot force him kay iyaha na gani na, voluntary,” PO1 Luchin Dinopol, PIDMB investigator, however, said.

Dinopol further said that they cannot give weight on the affidavit of Painstil and his Filipina wife as these were executed through the request of Romanillos.

He said the affidavits will be attached as supporting documents to those submitted by Romanillos for the pre-charge evaluation.

Also, the pre-charge evaluation was also based on Painstil’s release, not on the money allegedly involved.

“Sa ma-naay kwarta o wala, ang pangutana diha kung nganong iyang gibuhian nga duna may evidence recovered bisan pa man kung unsa kagamay sa marijuana nga nakuha ug dili ang question sa kwarta,” Dinopol explained.

Tomorrow, Compostela investigators and witnesses PO3 Arni Goc-ong and PO2 Romeo Rubilla will also submit their affidavits to PIDMB.

Last June 9, Painstil and his wife were having their car fixed when Painstil decided to light up a marijuana stick but was eventually seen by police conducting preventive patrol.

The foreign national was arrested but was allegedly released after his wife paid Romanillos P50,000 cash.

Due to the incident, Cebu Provincial Police Office director Noel Gillamac relieved the station chief to the headquarters and charged him with an administrative case.

Mayor Joel Quiño is yet to choose among five police officials who will temporarily assume Romanillos’ post.  (FREEMAN)