Ka Bel sues former PNP chief, 17 others

Almost seven months after his Feb. 25 arrest, detained Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran finally charged yesterday before the Office of the Ombudsman retired PNP chief Arturo Lomibao and 17 others for illegal arrest and arbitrary detention.

The party-list lawmaker, who is under hospital arrest at the Philippine Heart Center for the non-bailable offense of rebellion, included in the charge sheet six police officials and 11 prosecutors, led by Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuno, who handled his case.

Beltran, 73, invoked "parliamentary immunity" and argued that he cannot be arrested or detained, even if under the 1987 Constitution, House members only enjoy immunity on cases that carry a penalty of below six years imprisonment, which obviously excludes rebellion.

"This complaint is being filed for violation of my parliamentary immunity, which is punishable under Article 145 of the Revised Penal Code," Beltran said. He was allowed by the court to leave the hospital to file the case, and was escorted by policemen.

Among those he sued were Lomibao, Chief Superintendent Wilfredo Dulay, Senior Superintendent Zoilo Madrazo Lachica Jr., Superintendent Perfecto Marin, Chief Inspector Rino Corpuz, Inspector Honesto Gaton and SPOI Arnold Casumpang, who were responsible for his arrest in Bulacan.

Joining them are Quezon City chief prosecutor Claro Arellano and his deputies Meynardo Bautista, Mercedes Penamora and Ben de la Cruz, who all handled Beltran’s separate case for inciting to sedition.

Zuno, Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon, and prosecutors Emmanuel Velasco, Rosalinda Aquino, Aileen Marie Gutierrez, Irwin Maraya and Maria Cristina Rilloraza have also been included.

"The filing of the complaint is a mere afterthought as the Makati Regional Trial Court already found probable cause against him. It is intended merely to harass us," Fadullon told The STAR.