CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas was asked to investigate four police officers assigned at the Alcoy Police Station for illegal detention.
Businessman Jose Earl Plando of Barangay Daanlungsod, Alcoy, Cebu filed a complaint for unlawful arrest and illegal detention against PO1 Leon Gesim, PO2 Raniel Cartin, PO1 Gerlito Estremos and PO1 Abrraham Quijano.
Plando told The FREEMAN that he was arrested and detained by the police officers without investigating if indeed he was an accomplice in stealing the goats of his neighbor. The complainant is engaged in the buying and selling livestock.
He said on October 6, 2011 when he arrived at their house at 7:00 p.m., he was surprised when his father, Priscilo, a retired teacher, told him that he has an invitation letter from the Alcoy Police Station.
“That after reading the letter, I was really bothered and surprised when my father told me that the PNP members of Alcoy wanted me to appear at the Police Station in the morning for a conference regarding the complaint of Luz Jackson who accused me of stealing their four goats,” Plando said.
Plando added he went to the house of his aunt to ask where the house of Jackson but he was told to go back in the morning as it was very far.
While having a conversation with his aunt, he saw the police patrol car pass by and parked. Plando said he approached three policemen - Cartin, Estremos and Gesim, to ask why they sent him an invitation letter.
Plando said because he had no knowledge about the loss of the neighbor’s four goats, he told the policemen to check and verify the goats he bought from costumers, which were on stock at his house.
But the policemen declined and instead advised him to go to the station.
During the interrogation, he said the police asked him where he was at 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on October 5, 2011. He replied he was in the house of his customer in Dalaguete, Cebu.
Plando said Eduard Abanilla, who was also being investigated, told the police that they were responsible in stealing the goats of Jackson, together with a certain Amelito Estellori.
However, when Estellori was presented by the police before Abanilla, Abanilla said it was not him.
Plando said he was pressured by the police officers to admit to the crime, but he did not. He added he was advised by the police officers to sleep one night at the jail as it was already past 9:00 p.m.
Plando said that despite his innocence, on October 7 he agreed to settle the case and paid P12,000 to Jackson.
“Because of the incident, I suffered from sleepless nights because my reputation and also my family’s was damaged due to the unlawful arrest and illegal detention done by the abusive minds of police officers in Alcoy Police Station,” the complaint reads.
Meanwhile, The FREEMAN tried to contact the police officers for their comments but they could not be reached. - THE FREEMAN