3 cops, ex-police officer cleared of charges

CEBU, Philippines – For lack of probable cause, the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office dismissed a criminal complaint for unlawful arrest and arbitrary detention filed against three policemen of Consolacion and a retired police officer.

Provincial Prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba approved the recommendation of associate prosecuting attorney Jasmin Despi to dismiss the complaint against Police Officers 3 Lolito Dinampo, Norberto Cejas and Sherwin Leyson and retired policeman Lamberto Alilin.

The wife of one Giovanni Taborada filed the complaint against the respondents early this year, claiming that they arrested Taborada while the latter was attending a fiesta in Casili, Consolacion for carrying a firearm, and subsequently detained him for 20 hours.

Taborada was released after he was able to show a memorandum receipt and a mission order as civilian agent of the military, which authorized him to carry the gun.

The case stemmed from an argument that ensued between Taborada and Alilin after the latter’s vehicle hit a fence when it rolled down a steep road in barangay Casili, Consolacion.

It was Alilin’s driver that saw Taborada carrying a firearm, which prompted Alilin and the driver to report the same to the barangay hall.

Later in the day, Dinampo, Cejas, and Leyson placed Taborada under arrest and it was only after 20 hours that they saw the documents supporting Taborada’s possession of the gun.

The prosecutor’s office said the respondents did not violate any law because it was Taborada who reportedly violated the instruction in his mission order not to carry the firearm in public places. — Fred P. Languido/JMO (THE FREEMAN)