MANILA, Philippines - Manila prosecutors yesterday dismissed the complaint filed by the police against former Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) minister Lowell Menorca II for lack of probable cause.
The Manila Prosecutor’s Office said the cases of resisting arrest against Menorca, and of direct assault and obstruction of justice against his wife Jinky and bodyguard Felixberto Eslava, would be subject to further investigation.
The inquest fiscal said the complainants must strengthen the basis of their evidence.
However, one of the policemen involved in the arrest of Menorca insisted their complaint of resisting arrest was obvious, saying he and his colleagues had to chase him.
“We already had him at Nakpil corner Hidalgo streets, but we actually caught him at Quirino (Avenue) corner Roxas Boulevard,” Police Officer 2 Dennis Ramos of the Manila Police District-Station 10 said.
“If that is not resisting, or actually eluding, arrest, then what is it?” he remarked.
Supt. Edilberto Leonardo, MPD Station 10 chief, supported Ramos’ claim.
He said the police officers were merely performing their duties and their mission to arrest Menorca was done according to protocol.
“We are authorized to serve warrant even in plain clothes. We did not bring any gun due to the election gun ban. One officer had identification cards, which he held with the warrant he was reading then suddenly the lady took them,” Leonardo said, referring to Jinky.
“I would not care at all if he gets jailed or freed for our complaints. For us police officers, we did our duty of serving the arrest warrant to our subject. If we did not do so, we would be charged for dereliction of duty,” he said.
In a report submitted to the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters by Supt. Albert Barrot of the MPD, the protocol for arrest was complied with by the police officers involved and they introduced themselves by showing their badges and a copy of the arrest warrant to Menorca.
They claimed Jinky grabbed the badge of one of the policemen and the copy of the arrest warrant and hid it in their vehicle.
The MPD report also accused Jinky of attacking one of the arresting lawmen.
The camp of Menorca claimed the policemen who effected the arrest used unnecessary force, also pointing out the lawmen did not have a copy of the arrest warrant and were in civilian clothes.
PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said the report submitted by the MPD will be used in the investigation by the PNP’s Internal Affairs Service.
Mayor stressed the internal investigation would be for the benefit of all parties involved, including Menorca. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Non Alquitran