Police welcome charges

The Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) said it welcomes the charges filed against their top chief and three officials by a private company in relation to their opening of the padlocked gates of a country club in Cebu City.

“We are not siding with anyone on the dispute, we’re there to maintain peace and order,” Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, PRO-7 chief, said. Criminal and administrative charges were filed against him in relation to the March 18 incident.

The criminal and administrative charges filed against him by Aznar Enterprises Inc. and Aznar Brothers Realty Co. before the Ombudsman-Visayas also included Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el, Cebu City police chief.

The charges stemmed from the padlocking of the gate at the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club ordered by Aznar Enterprises Inc. and Aznar Brothers Realty Co., who are locked in a dispute with developer Sta. Lucia Realty and Development.

About 10 security guards of Smartwise Security Agency (SSA) were sent by Aznar Enterprises-Inc. to padlock the main gate of Alta Vista Golf and Country Club located in Barangay Pardo, Cebu City.

This despite the presence of  security  guards from the Cebu Niño Security Agency that were hired by the management of Alta Vista Golf and Country Club to man the gates.  These guards were overpowered by the guards from Smartwise.

Garbo said Alta Vista management called them to intervene.

“You expect that the other party will make counter actions because that is their right,” he said.

The PRO-7 chief advised those who were charged by Aznar Enterprises to also take legal action.

“I advised them also to be cautious in their actions. They should plan and see to it that their plan is being implemented properly and in accordance with legal requirements so they are protected,” Garbo said.

Natu-el said they were merely doing their job.  “It is the right of the Aznar family to file a case against us”, Natu-el said. He said they never coerced the guards into opening the gates.