Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — A legislator on Monday hit at Interior Secretary Mar Roxas for failing to act on complaints against an allegedly erring police official in Zamboanga del Norte.
Zamboanga del Norte Representative Seth Jalosjos said Roxas failed to look into complaints against Police Superintendent Reynaldo Maclang, Zamboanga del Norte provincial public safety commander, for alleged human rights violations and abuse of authority.
He said that the province’s Governor Rolando Yebes was one of those who complained to Roxas about Maclang.
Yebes was told that the issues he raised were “serious allegations,” and instead of facing scrutiny Maclang was even promoted, said the lawmaker.
“Why did you do this, Mr Secretary?” asked Jalosjos who said that even his staff was harassed by Maclang last week in Dapitan City.
The congressman said that his staff was scheduled to fetch him at the airport when the pick-up truck his staff drove was put through strict inspection allegedly by Maclang and several other lawmen.
“Noong isang linggo, ang kotse pong pag-aari ko na naka-protocol plate ay hinarang sa isang checkpoint. Pwersahan at tahasan nilang sinakyan ang aking sariling sasakyan at dinala sa kanilang kampo,” Jalosjos said.
(Last week, my vehicle bearing a protocol plate was stopped at a checkpoint. Policemen got in and brought the vehicle to their camp.)
He added that the police allegedly asked for a bag inside the vehicle to be opened for inspection even without a search warrant and ordered his staff to drive the pick-up truck to the police office, accompanied by several police officers.
This was even after the search on his vehicle turned up clean, he said.
He said his staff was allowed to drive off to meet him later that day after saying that he had to be fetched at the airport.
Jalosjos is preparing to file charges against Maclang and is scheduled to make a privilege speech on the issue during session.