Complainants in Pandi raid free to file case vs cops, says Gamboa

BUNDLED UP Police in Bulacan province seize copies of Pinoy Weekly, an alternative news outfit, from a housing unit occupied by some members of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap in Pandi town on Sunday. — PINOY WEEKLY PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — People who are contesting the confiscation of alleged subversive materials in Pandi, Bulacan and labeled the incident as a police raid should file a case before the Internal Affairs Service of the Philippine National Police.

This way, the police can deal with the allegations “squarely,” PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa said Monday.

“If there are people who are aggrieved na sinasabi na nangraid, etc., then let them file the necessary and appropriate action,” he said in a press briefing in Camp Crame.

“I suggest (they) file it with IAS dito sa national headquarters so that we can deal with it squarely,” Gamboa added.

PinoyMedia Center Inc., publisher of Pinoy Weekly, earlier denounced the “illegal” seizure by police of thousands of print copies of its magazine in Pandi, Bulacan.

Kenneth Roland A. Guda, editor-in-chief of Pinoy Weekly, said at least eight Pandi police officers went to the office of urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) in Villa Lois public housing to seize the Pinoy Weekly copies.

However, Central Luzon regional police director Brig. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia claimed that (Kadamay) “voluntarily surrendered” the copies of magazines, which it labeled as “subversive,” for fear that it might be used during the President’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

On the concern that the incident is like a prelude to the implementation of the Anti-Terror law, Gamboa said the law cannot still be used as there is still no implementing rules and regulations.

He also told the Central Luzon police chief to be careful in using the word “subversive” in describing the documents as Anti-Subversion Act or Republic Act No. 1700 was already repealed in 1992.

“There’s no such thing anymore as subversive. On the context of the Anti-Terrorism Act, that cannot still be used as of now kasi wala pang implementing rules and regulations,” Gamboa said.

“Sinabi ko yan kay Sermonia, ‘be very careful with using that word because probably you can charge them with other laws present but not that kasi wala na nga yung law na ‘yun,” he added.

EDV