Seafarers groups hit Manila cops for ‘senseless’ shooting

Six large organizations of sea-based overseas contract workers have condemned the senseless shooting of two seamen during an operation by Manila policemen in Ermita last week.

In a "manifesto of grave concern," the Masters and Mates Association of the Philippines, United Filipino Seafarers (UFS), PMMA Alumni Association, Inc., Retired Seafarers Association, Inc., Maritime Integrity Group and the Seaman’s Party, strongly condemned "the abuse of authority and human rights violations" allegedly committed by four policemen of the Ermita police station.

The groups also called on Manila Police District director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong to order a "fair and honest-to-goodness investigation and trial so that justice may prevail."

Investigations showed that last Sept. 29, SPO1 Felipe Manlutac and PO2 Jesus Garcia, PO2 Gilbert Gomboc and PO2 Anthony Navarro of the Special Anti-Illegal Drugs Unit of the Ermita police station apprehended seamen Gilbert Santoya and Emmar Turuel in their boarding house at Natividad corner Lopez streets in Ermita.

The commotion attracted the attention of brothers Jay and Jovito Saroza, both seamen, who went down and asked the policemen what offense their two companions committed.

An altercation then ensued, followed by the alleged shooting of Jay Saroza and Turuel. Santoya and Jovito were also allegedly beaten up by the policemen before bringing them to the police station.

They were charged with assault and resisting arrest.

Jay Saroza is now in critical condition at the UST Hospital, while Turuel is under observation at the Lourdes Hospital. The four seamen had been scheduled to leave this month.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Vidal Querol, upon receiving report of the incident, immediately ordered the disarming of the four policemen pending further investigation.

According to UFS president Nelson Ramirez, the seamen groups have voiced its concern of whitewash in the investigation, since its members have received information that the four policemen were allegedly notorious for "shaking down" seamen in the past, but have always managed to escape prosecution.

Ramirez said Bulaong should "continuously work on ridding the MPD of scalawags who abuse their authority to the detriment of the entire institution."

"At this particular time when our country and our political system are in tumultuous states, civilians like us can only depend on the police for our protection and security. Given that fateful and sorry incident of Sept. 29, most of us are now thinking otherwise," the groups said in their statement.