MANILA, Philippines—The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed with the Office of the Ombudsman a criminal complaint against officials and members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for arresting and charging NBI agents with robbery following the NBI’s raid in a gambling den in Lasam town, Cagayan province last May 29.
Facing a complaint for Arbitrary Detention, Unlawful Arrest, Obstruction of Justice (Presidential Decree 1829), Anti-Illegal Gambling Law, Conduct Unbecoming of a Police Officer, Grave Misconduct, Oppression and Dishonesty under the Uniform Rules of Procedure are Chief Superintendent Miguel “Mike” Laurel, Senior Inspector Ardee Tion, Chief Inspector Eduardo Felix, Chief Inspector Jonalyn P. Langkit, Inspector Leon Umbrero Jr., Senior Police Officer 1 Ronel Saturno, Isaac Agatep III, Police Officer 3 Walter Balisi, PO1 Jay Marc Ariola, Karl Wilfred Paragas, Roy Millo Vercida and Vincent Dan Gutierrez.
The National Bureau of Investigation. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
A similar complaint has been lodged with the Internal Affairs Service of the Philippine National Police.
They are also slapped with a complaint for violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. On the other hand Isaac Agatep III, Municipal Councilor of Lasam, is slapped with a complaint for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Anti-Gambling Law.
The NBI agents Ferdinand Manuel, Jose Rommel Ramirez, Nelson Moreno, Edgardo Kawada, Levi Omar Orille, Allan Elefante, Michelle Fernandez and Joseph Eufemio Martinez also sought the preventive suspension of the PNP officials.
“The PNP is known to be a community and service oriented agency responsible for the maintenance of peace and order and public safety. However, the flagrant display of dishonesty, lack of professionalism, oppressive and abusive conduct [of the said officers] together with their abuse of authority and office in the PNP to protect the operation of illegal gambling is completely reprehensible and should not be left unpunished,” the NBI agents said in their complaint.
The complaint stemmed after the NBI’s convoy was flagged down by the PNP’s Regional Public Safety Battalion moments after they arrested 13 suspected jueteng operators and employees in Barangay Callao Norte in Lasam.
The police were alerted by Agatep who alleged that his father, Isaac Balatico Agatep Jr., was being abducted by armed men.
The NBI agents said they have shown their documents from NBI Director Virgilio Mendez indicating that the NBI operation was mounted after Cagayan Governor Alvaro Antonio complained about unabated illegal gambling operations in Lasam.
However, the police still detained them and confiscated the keys to their vehicles while the 13 individuals they arrested were interviewed by the police.
A few hours later, the NBI agents were slapped with a complaint for kidnapping, robbery, grave coercion and violation of domicile. They were subjected to an inquest proceeding before Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Glenn Ladio.
During the clarificatory hearing, the prosecutor commended the NBI for being able to prepare inquest documents for the raid they have conducted despite being under police custody. But they were not able to conduct an inventory of the evidence because the police took control of their vehicles containing the pieces of evidence seized.
The prosecutor eventually dismissed the case filed against the NBI agents and declared legitimate the raid they have conducted in Lasam. The prosecutor also recommended the filing of case against those arrested by the NBI during the raid.
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