BAR FINE National Capital Region Police Chief Guillermo Eleazar and Southern Police District Chief Tomas Apolinario Jr. inspect drugs found at the premises of Time Bar in Makati City.—GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
Officers from the Makati City Police who raided and implemented a search warrant for the Time in Manila bar have received an award for the successful operation which led to the recovery of different illegal drugs.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde gave the Medalya ng Kagalingan to Makati City Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Supt. Rogelio Pablo Simon during the flag raising ceremony on Monday at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Joining Simon were Police Insp. Jeson Amodo Vigilla, PO2 Arman Cruz Galit, Po1 John Rolf Agacita Garcia, P01 Mark Lawrence Belivs Batu, and PO1 John-John Nisperos del Campo.
Aside from the six, 21 other personnel of the Makati police were also given the award.
In an interview after the event, Albayalde vowed to provide “even better lawyers” for the policemen involved in the said operations.
“‘Wag kayong mag-alala, kung magaling sila (lawyers), kukuha tayo ng mas magaling sa kanila,” he said.
(Don’t worry, if those lawyers are good, we’ll get better ones.)
On Thursday, operatives of Makati police under the supervision of Southern Police District (SPD) Chief Supt. Tomas Apolinario Jr. and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) head Director Guillermo Eleazar were authorized by the Makati City Regional Trial Court to inspect the bar again.
READ: NCRPO, SPD inspect Makati bar anew
The said bar was previously raided on August 11, as its employees were allegedly involved in drug pushing.
READ: Cops raid Makati bar for allegedly selling party drugs to customers
However, both incidents were marred with alleged violation of human rights. During the implementation of the search warrant on Thursday, lawyers claiming to represent the bar’s owners went inside the establishment and were arrested.
According to the Makati police, they were nabbed for supposedly threatening authorities and obstructing justice. They were released after more than 24 hours, through an order from Senior Assistant Prosecutor Romel Odronia.
Different personalities and organizations, including music artists and lawyer groups, have spoken against the incidents, while the Commission on Human Rights vowed to investigate on the issue. /je
RELATED STORIES:
Lawyers of Makati bar released after 24-hour detention
CHR initiates probe on arrest of Makati bar lawyers