CEBU – A ranking police official in Central Visayas and five other police officers were sued for damages after they reportedly impounded a vehicle allegedly used in the illegal drugs trade.
Sergio Romero filed a civil case for replevin and damages against Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group 7 chief Marvin Sanchez, PO3 Brazilio Borinaga, PO3 Emilio Relasan, PO3 Ritchie Alisoso, PO3 Richard Valencia, and PO2 Roehl Patalinghug before the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City.
Romeo, resident of Singson Village in barangay Guadalupe, demanded close to P200,000 moral and exemplary damages including litigation cost from the respondents.
The case stemmed from an anti-illegal drugs operation conducted by Sanchez and his men on November 10 at the pier area wherein Romero’s son was one of those arrested in the buy-bust operation.
Romero said that his son Jose Ronan borrowed his Isuzu Crosswind in the evening of November 10 because he was reportedly going to meet his friend at a restobar in SM City-Cebu.
Romero said his son met a town mate from Ozamiz City while at the restobar and offered the latter to ride with him on his way home. According to Romero, their town mate, Narciso Duterte, allegedly asked his son to pass by Pier 6 as he was going to meet somebody from Manila.
At the pier, his son reportedly waited for Duterte when RAIDSOTG operatives placed him under arrest. The vehicle was impounded for allegedly being used in the illegal drugs trade.
But Romero questioned the continued possession of his vehicle by the said respondents despite the dismissal of the case against his son by the Cebu City Prosecutors Office.
Romero said that the vehicle was not also offered as evidence in the prosecutors’ office. According to Romero, they have already sent demand letters to the respondents but the latter have stood by their refusal to return his vehicle.
Romero alleged that the respondents’ refusal caused him “sleepless nights, social humiliation, mental anguish, and wounded feelings” for which he is demanding P100,000 moral damages.
He is likewise demanding P30,000 in exemplary damages, and another P60,000 for attorney’s fee and litigation cost. — Fred P. Languido/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)