6 cops charged before ombudsman

MANILA, Philippines — Six police officers in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, including the chief of the municipal police, are facing charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly planting evidence against a social media content creator.

In his complaint filed on Friday, Noel Montano, known to his viewers as El Tarik,  accused Cabiao police chief Maj. Shariel Paulino, Capt. Sherwin Veloria, Cpls. Arvin Velasco and Jordan Talavera, and S/Sgt. Joy Villar of conspiring to plant a grenade in his house.

The officers also face complaints for grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a police officer and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and other violations.

Montano said Paulino “directed and orchestrated the planting of evidence” against him, allegedly upon orders of Cabiao Mayor Ramil Rivera. He said the mayor  has been a subject of his critical posts on Facebook.

Montano said that on Feb. 21, a search warrant issued by the Gapan City Regional Trial Court on charges of illegal possession of firearms was served against him.

He said he went out to invite some people to witness the search, but on their way to the house, they saw six men in civilian clothes leaving the area on motorcycles.

Montano said they were informed that a group of policemen had arrived and left.

He said that during the search, police allegedly found a hand grenade under the pillow of his mother, who was sick.

Montano said he never owned any explosive, especially a grenade.