Assistance sought for brother of slain policeman

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna , Philippines   – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has sought police assistance on behalf of the brother of a slain police officer who was shot dead by a narcotics agent seven months ago for a drug case.

CHR chairperson Leila de Lima wrote Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa, asking for security assistance for Gerald Capitanea, brother of the late Police Chief Inspector Nataniel Capitanea.

The CHR said Capitanea started to fear for his life after he filed a complaint at the CHR-National Capital Region against a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) staff for the killing of his brother. He said unidentified persons are harassing him. He said he received death threats from unidentified callers. Capitanea said there are unidentified persons looking for him at his residence.

According to police reports, Chief Inspector Capitanea was killed by an agent of PDEA on Aug. 22. It was learned that Capitanea was arrested by PDEA agents assigned at the National Capital Region for a drug case last year. The police officer was charged for a criminal case which was not specified but he was acquitted by the court for lack of sufficient evidence that linked him to drug activities.

Capitanea won the case against PDEA operatives after the court found that the officer had a legitimate police operation when the PDEA agents conducted a drug operation. Probers said the PDEA agents got irked over the acquittal of Capitanea and after several months the police officer was shot dead.           – Ed Amoroso