PNP asked to act on abuse raps vs top cop close to LP pols

ZAMBOANGA CITY—A lawyer who is outspoken against police abuses in Zamboanga del Norte province has urged the Philippine National Police hierarchy to “stop condoning the violent actions and brutalities of your ground commander.”

Allan Ranillo said he, too, had been subjected to harassment and attacks since 2012.

Ranillo said since he delivered a speech in 2012 at the Dipolog City council  demanding an investigation of Supt. Reynaldo Maclang, “I have been harassed.”

“Shortly after that speech, my car’s window was smashed,” he said.

Ranillo said he continued criticizing Maclang despite the harassment. In February 2013, he sent an emissary to the camp of Maclang to arrange  a possible reconciliatory meeting.

But instead of a positive response, Ranillo said “my house was strafed.”

On May 9 last year, his pickup truck  was fired at while he was driving in the village of Datagan in Sindangan town.

Ranillo said he was linking Maclang to the attack and cases of harassment even if “I didn’t see him directly committing such crimes” because they “always happen every time I am vocal against his abuses.”

He said other Dipolog residents, like his neighbor Joseph Herrera, also suffered harassment for criticizing Maclang.

“His house was strafed, too,” Ranillo said.

Maclang also physically assaulted and caused the arrest without charges of Rolando Tanquis, who has a program in a Dipolog radio station, on

May 3, 2013.

Tanquis, 50, was in his morning program in dxFL when he was dragged out of the announcer’s booth by two police officers soon after he had interviewed Maclang.

Ranillo said Maclang “is the hatchet man of the Liberal Party (LP) here and for as long as LP people commit violations, it’s OK, they condone it and the higher officials of the PNP are not doing anything to curb this.”

He said he had been writing and submitting letters, petitions, complaints to the PNP, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Department of Justice,  Commission on Elections, National Bureau of Investigation and other security agencies but no action had been taken against Maclang.

Maclang has been given a new assignment outside  Zamboanga del Norte.

The Inquirer learned that Maclang also faces at least eight charges in the Western Mindanao office of the CHR here.

The cases range from torture, grave threat and coercion, physical injuries, attempted murder, grave misconduct, to even robbery.

Majority of those who filed human rights abuse cases against Maclang are residents of Zamboanga del Norte, who happened to be very vocal against the administration of the province’s incumbent governor, a close ally of President Aquino.

Frederick Ian Capin, CHR director in Western Mindanao, said the cases against Maclang dated back to 2011 and were still pending or under investigation.

Chief Supt. Juanito Vano,  regional director of the Western Mindanao police, has not been returning calls or answering queries from the Inquirer on Maclang’s alleged abuses. Julie Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao