Guingona aide arrested, not kidnapped

An aide of Sen. Teofisto Guingona was arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) last Thursday and not kidnapped as earlier reported.

The NBI charged Alberto Saulog, 29, yesterday before the Manila City Prosecutor with malicious mischief and possession of shabu.

Saulog is now detained at the NBI jail in Manila.

NBI acting Director Carlos Caabay told reporters yesterday his men arrested Saulog after he allegedly hurled a stone at the car of Palmer Mallari, supervising agent of the NBI’s Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division.

"It was done after the crime," he said. "The phrase after the crime as one of the grounds for a warrantless arrest has no time frame."

Caabay said the incident occurred last Wednesday while Mallari was maneuvering his car in front of Saulog’s house along San Lazaro street in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

In a complaint filed at Manila police headquarters, Saulog’s mother-in-law, Flora Yumol, 49, said Mallari poked a gun at Saulog after her son-in-law had cursed the NBI agent.

Yumol said Saulog was standing in front of their house when he was sideswiped by a car driven by Mallari, leading to a verbal altercation between the two.

But NBI agents told Caabay Mallari did not get down from his car nor did he poke a gun at Saulog after the incident, but that he drove away from the scene.

Later the agents arrived at Saulog’s neighborhood and after conducting a surveillance, they arrested Saulog when the agents allegedly found 0.03 grams of shabu in his possession.

The NBI agents said they did not get a warrant before arresting Saulog because the arrest was done immediately after the alleged crime and that Mallari had "personal knowledge" of the offense committed.

Under the Rules of Court, these circumstances, must be present to justify a "warrantless arrest," made by law enforcement officers, the agents added. – Mike Frialde