Cops who arrested Abu get jobs back

The Court of Appeals. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Court of Appeals (CA) has reversed a 2012 Ombudsman decision dismissing three policemen from the service over the arrest of a member of the Abu Sayyaf in 2006.

In a 15-page ruling penned by Associate Justice Leoncia Real-Dimagiba, the CA Fourth Division granted the petition for review filed by Supt. Roger James Brillantes, P03 Peter Paul Pablico and P01 Noel Fabia of the Jan. 20, 2012, Ombdusman decision ordering their dismissal for oppression, grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

The court ordered the two Ombudsman decisions dismissing the policemen nullified and set aside after it agreed with the petitioners that there was “no substantial evidence upon which the Ombudsman anchored its decision in this administrative disciplinary case to warrant” their dismissal.

“Petitioners are absolved from administrative liability. The chief of the Philippine National Police is directed to reinstate petitioners to their former positions,” the appellate court said.

The three policemen were ordered dismissed for arresting one Allan Almoite, also allegedly known as Alih Ambing, whose name did not appear on the warrant of arrest issued by the Pasig Regional Trial Court.

The policemen insisted the arrest warrant mentioned the subject as a “certain Ali” and that they were able to establish his identity following a surveillance.

In its ruling, the appellate court said it found “erroneous” the Ombudsman ruling dismissing the policemen for grave misconduct even as it had earlier absolved them for the unlawful arrest of Almoite.

The court said the policemen were able to establish that Almoite was Ali Ambing.—Christine O. Avendaño