Gov’t official not man mistaken for terrorist

MANILA, Philippines - A peace officer at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) clarified yesterday that he is not the person who recently lost a P482-million civil suit against the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Allan Almoite, who holds the rank of Peace Program Officer III, said in a letter to The STAR that he was not the one who filed the case against the PNP, contrary to what was reported on Jan. 15.

“He is a completely different person. I believe this is a case of mistaken identity, considering that I have the same name as the one being referred to in the article,” said Almoite.

He said the article “caused some negative perceptions about my identity, humiliation, loss of credibility, and moral dignity especially since I am the focal person in the implementation of peace programs in the southern part of the Philippines.”

The article named Almoite as the person who filed a civil suit against the PNP after he was mistaken for a terrorist.

The complainant, who had the same name, lost his bid after a Valenzuela City court dismissed the case, noting that he was not charged with terrorism for violating the Human Security Act of 2007 but instead charged with illegal possession of firearms, ammunition or explosives.