Navotas cops foil illegal takeover of patis factory

MANILA, Philippines - Navotas City police officers arrested over the weekend five security guards for allegedly taking over the Lorenza Food Corp. factory without a court order or consent from the owners and illegally detaining at least 11 persons since June 1.

City police chief Bernard Tambaoan said among those they rescued were Edwin Espinosa, Erwin Pomasin, Michael Campillo, Efren de Guia, Hector Reyes, Eric Enoc, Uldarico Murillo, Joriz Rosales, Antonio Gader, Melchor Gader and Jeffrey Gader.

The victims filed charges of serious illegal detention against security guards Florencio Corpus, Ibrahim Oseta, Mario Garcia, Garby Guban, Reneboy Salvador – all reportedly employed by the Core Security Agency – who were arrested Friday night.

Police said the guards yielded four 12-gauge shotguns, a .38-caliber revolver and ammunition. The Navotas City prosecutor’s office recommended the security guards be held without bail.

The factory produces patis or fish sauce and other products under the Lorenzana brand and exports it to the US and other parts of the world. Property administrator Sammy Lorenzana Jr. said his relatives allegedly used the factory as a collateral for a loan without his consent and were later subjected to foreclosure proceedings.

He said the case has not yet reached the courts so the takeover was premature. He said he will file charges of illegal entry and seek damages against the security agency and the bank for allegedly sending the guards to take over the factory.

“Legal processes must be followed, not the laws of the jungle,” Lorenzana said.

He said the suspects entered the one-hectare factory compound in civilian clothes and then changed into their security guard uniforms. The suspects allegedly ordered the employees to leave, but some refused.

“The intruding security guards partially occupied the factory for several days until policemen came,” he told The STAR.

Tambaoan said the police officers were forced to intervene when the security guards failed to show a court order or writ of execution that is supposed to be served by a court sheriff.

“We responded because of the reports that some people are being detained inside the facility,” he said.