INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Authorities apprehended seven police personnel in Angeles City, Pampanga, for the alleged illegal arrest and arbitrary detention of 13 individuals, the Philippine National Police (PNP) – Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) said.
According to PNP-IMEG, its operatives conducted a surprise inspection at the Police Station 2 of the Angeles City Police Office last June 2.
In a report on Saturday, PNP-IMEG said that it had collared and identified suspects. Station Commander Police Maj. Marvin Aquino; Master Sergeant Romulo Meligrito; Staff Sergeant Nikko Dave Marquez; Staff Sergeant Mark Steven Sison; Police Corporals Richard Gozum, Diosdado Buenconsejo Villamor Jr., and Jaypee Mangilit; and a civilian Esmael Arviola.
The arrest stemmed from a complaint lodged by one of the victim’s daughters, saying that her mother was illegally arrested at their residence and was accused of violating the Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 on May 28.
Based on the complainant’s report, the police personnel of Police Station 2 demanded P30,000 from the victims in exchange for filing Presidential Decree 1602 (Illegal Gambling) instead of RA 9165.
Moreover, police said that 13 individuals were arbitrarily detained without any complaint filed against them and the station’s official police blotter showed no record of their arrest and other circumstances causing the continuous detention of the victims.
Currently, the arrested police officers are detained at IMEG Custodial Facility in Camp Crame, Quezon City, for documentation, proper disposition, and eventual filing of appropriate charges against them before the National Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice in Manila.
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