Cop charged for releasing suspect

CEBU, Philippines – A police inspector is facing a case for violation of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act after he unlawfully discharged last year a suspect in the abduction of a 15-year-old girl without any inquest proceeding.

Graft Investigator Dyna Camba elevates the case of PINSP Wilfredo Giducos to the court, while the complaint against his co-workers SPO4 Douglas Amores and SPO1 Eusebio Dungog, Jr were dismissed for lack of proof.

Camba said that she found probable cause against Giducos after he released one Edgar Arnoco who allegedly abducted a minor. Camba recommended a bail of P30,000 for Giducos.

The complainant was Sandra Preillas Rios of Sitio Puthaw, Barangay Loong, Tabogon, Cebu.

She alleged that on April 18, 2009, she went with her relatives and Sylvia Beduya, of the Municipal Welfare and Development Office, to the Tabogon Police Station to report an incident of abduction.

She said that the policeman accompanied them to the place where they spotted her daughter. She was able to take her daughter back while the police arrested Arnoco.

On April 20, 2009 Willie Rios, uncle of the Sandra, called the Tabogon Police Station and requested the police not to release Arnoco since the case against him was about to be filed before the Provincial Prosecutor's Office.

However, the policeman said that they will release Arnoco if the case is not filed before 12:00 p.m of April 20, 2010.

Rios said that when they were at the Prosecutor's Office, Arnoco was released by the police at around 8:30 a.m. before the designated time they had stated.

She furthered said that because of the release, the case against Arnoco went through the usual preliminary investigation instead of inquest. She claimed that it was Giduco who ordered to release Arnoco while Amores and Dungog facilitated the same.

Giducos said that they sought advice from the Regional Trial Court of Bogo Clerk of Court Rey Caayon. He said the advise they got was for them to release Arnoco as they might be held liable for arbitrary detention since no complaint was filed against Arnoco. (FREEMAN)