Police to limit citizen’s arrest on poll violators

CEBU, Philippines - Citing abuse by political candidates, the Police Regional Office 7 and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will establish protocols in implementing citizen’s arrest for poll violators.

PRO-7 director, Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, Jr., said that in the past elections some political candidates abused the citizen’s arrest to harass opponents and or their supporters.

The police and the Comelec want to set up protocols that would limit such practice.

“Although this is their right, we would like to limit this practice wherein the law enforcement will be having difficulty,” said Garbo in an interview with reporters.

Garbo said he will direct the legal officers of PRO 7 to come up with the protocol.

“Citizen’s arrest is allowed by law, but then, there’s no protocol on how to do it,” said Garbo.

Garbo recalled an incident in 2007 and 2010 elections wherein various political groups implemented citizen’s arrests.

One classic example, he said, was the incident in Bogo City in 2010 that resulted in 11-hour standoff between the group of Mayor Celestino Martinez, Jr. and that of the group of 4th district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon.

Salimbangon’s group was on their way to Pulangbato Elementary School when they met the group of Martinez.

Martinez’s wife, Clavel, asked the police to check Salimbangon’s convoy after receiving information that they have high-powered guns inside.

Garbo said allowing citizen’s arrest without limitations would encourage political groups to retaliate and will eventually cause conflict and disorder.

 â€œSo instead of police officers doing their job, securing and protecting the people or the election paraphernalia, they will be diverted to investigate this crisis. We don’t want these things to happen. We all know that this is part of strategy,” Garbo said.

The limiting of citizen’s arrest was one of those discussed in yesterday’s Regional Joint Security Control Center meeting among the police, military, and the Comelec.

Garbo, who represented the PNP, said they presented their final security preparation plan for the upcoming elections.  Lt. Col. Christopher Tampus, spokesperson of the AFP Central Command, said they will be deploying around 1,500 personnel in assistance to PRO 7 on election day.

“We will fill in the gaps. Kaya ra g’yud nato na pun-an,” said Tampus.

The last RJSCC meeting will be held within this month, said Garbo, aiming for a peaceful and orderly elections come May 13.

Meanwhile, Comelec legal officer Temie Lambino warned that they will be filing disqualification cases starting next week against candidates who refused to follow the proper posting of campaign materials.

“If hindi nila inalis iyon and they let the Comelec take that down, disqualification case na agad ang haharap sa kanila,” said Lambino, saying that the candidates will be given three days notice to take down their unlawful campaign materials. — (FREEMAN)