8 Quezon intel cops nabbed for raid on wrong house

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Eight intelligence officers have been arrested in connection with a raid on the house of a wrong target in Lucena, Quezon before dawn on Friday.

The officers, whose identities were withheld, included a captain, two sergeants and five corporals.

Criminal charges, including grave threats, unjust vexation and violation of domicile, were filed against the lawmen before the City Prosecutor’s Office on Friday afternoon.

Aside from criminal cases, the officers will also face administrative charges for grave misconduct.

The incident resulted in the relief of Lucena police chief Lt. Col. Reynaldo Reyes for command responsibility.

Reyes was replaced by Lt. Col. William Angway Jr., Quezon police deputy director for administration, as officer-in-charge of the Lucena police.

Complainant Renelyn Rianzales, 52, said a group of policemen searched her house in Barangay Ransohan at around 3:15 a.m.

Rianzales said the policemen threatened and held her at gunpoint.

When the policemen left, Renelyn said she sought the help of a fellow barangay election candidate, who accompanied her to the police station.

At the police station, she was informed that a drug raid was scheduled in the barangay on the same day.

Records showed Rianzales was one of the witnesses in a congressional hearing about unreported violent incidents that occurred during the barangay elections in the city.

She expressed belief that the raid was connected to her testifying at the hearing.