37 cops asked to submit reply

CEBU, Philippines - Finding sufficient bases to proceed with the preliminary investigation, the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices directed 37 police officers of Cebu Province to file their counter-affidavits.

Earlier, the Aloguinsan farmers filed complaints for arbitrary detention, illegal arrest, incriminating innocent persons and misconduct against police officers pertaining to the commotion over a land dispute last August 29, 2011 in Aloguinsan.

In his two-page order, Director Dennis Garcia gave the police officers ten days from receipt of the said order to file their counter-affidavits and evidence.

Named respondents were P/Insp. Jaime Tolentino of of Aloguinsan, P/Insp. Leo Logrono of Pinamungajan, Toledo’s P/Insp. Rogelio Amoroso, P/Insp. Anthony Bagarinao of of Balamban, P/Insp. Danilo Santilla of of Asturias, Provincial Operations Officer P/Insp. Resty Santos and P/Insp. Julius Ompad.

The others were SPO4, Tadeo Lapinig, SPO3 Allan Barquin, SPO1 Eliseo Pacquit, SPO1 Benedecto Bobilles, SPO1 Thule Tanjanlangit, SPO1 PO3 Jehaziel Huyo-a, PO3 Eugene Macapaz, PO2 Jose Walter Dealagdon, PO2 Stephen Tibon, PO1 Fredenil Cabanero, PO1 Rodney Lebumfacil, PO1 Arvin Gesite, PO1 Ronel Gantuangco and certain police officers Alquesa, Barquin, Lesite, Divinagracia, Albotra, Bayang, Caliguid, Calisang, Sanoy, Alinaban, Belleza, Balaton, Pares, Paragados, Sanoy, Alinabon and Nedjebe.

Spouses Romeo and Arlene Ordaniza of Barangay Bonbon, Aloguinsan, Cebu stated in their affidavits that they, with other members of San Roque Farmer’s Association (SRFA), prevented the fencing of a 168-hectare agricultural land owned by the Gantuangco family claiming they had cultivated the land since 1910.

On August 29, 2011, they alleged that the claimant of the property, Jufil Gantuangco together with numerous police officers, went to the area and started to fence the property.

The farmers claimed they were illegally arrested and subjected to all kinds of physical manhandling and harassment while they were protesting the fencing of the disputed farmlands.

Ompad, the legal counsel of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, said they are ready to face the charges filed against them. They have yet to receive copy of the order from the Office of the Ombudsman.

He said it is obvious that the farmers just want to harass the police after what happened last year. Ompad further said it was expressed in the TRO that the PNP are deputized to implement the demolition together with the sheriff but when they got to the area farmers were blocking, impeding, and obstructing the implementation of the TRO.  (FREEMAN)