Police take the mugshots of former Rep. Satur Ocampo and ACT Teachers Rep. Lustina Francisca Castro. PHOTO FROM POLICE REGIONAL OFFICE 11
Government agencies should always observe due process in making arrests, Commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana said Sunday.
Gana made the statement after former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo and 17 others were detained, arrested then charged in Davao del Norte for alleged kidnapping and human trafficking.
READ: PNP files kidnapping, human trafficking raps vs Satur Ocampo, et al.
“Dapat yung due process is observed,” Gana said over dzBB.
“In terms of yung pagkaka-incarcerate sa kanila, dapat tuparin,” she said, referring to the detention of Ocampo and his companions.
“We are really looking into that na yung kanilang karapatan nila … will not be violated. Mino-monitor namin ito kasi dapat due process must be observed in their case,” she added.
Arrested with Ocampo were ACT-Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, and 16 others in Dulyan, Barangay Palma Gil, Talaingod town.
They were charged with trafficking of minors on Thursday morning. On Saturday night, Tagum Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Arlene L. Palabrica ordered their release.
READ: Satur Ocampo, 17 others charged with trafficking minors / Satur Ocampo, 17 others post bail on kidnapping case
According to the order, they were “still presumed innocent and no information have been filed against them, their supreme right to liberty must be upheld.” /cbb