Police ‘used’ hot car in surveillance - Karapatan

CEBU, Philippines - A militant group has accused the operatives of the City Intelligence Branch (CIB) of the Cebu City Police Office of using a seized “hot car” in its operation.

Dennis Abarientos, secretary-general of Karapatan-Central Visayas, in a press statement said that CIB operatives used the  olive-green Kia Rio sedan with plate numbers YGD 234 in conducting a surveillance operation during the rally of the Gabriela Women’s Party at the Fuente Osmeña last Friday.

“The police assets would take photos of the speakers and participants in the rally and then present their shots to a police officer manning the said vehicle,” Abarientos said.

But Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, head of the CIB, cried foul over the accusations.

He said they would not use a court evidence for their own purposes or for a mere surveillance.

“Naa diri akong mga tawo, ipakita then ipa-pinpoint nila kung pwede lang, for transparency, kay puro lang sila allegations,” Santander lamented.

Karapatan learned that the car was the same vehicle used in the series of drive-by shooting incidents in the city last year.

The parents of the arrested suspects surrendered the car to the CIB.

“It is highly irregular that an object of a crime is conveniently appropriated by the police for their own illicit purposes. Official or unofficial, such appropriation is just as condemnable as the purpose of its use, which is to curtail a peaceful assembly,” Abarientos asserted.

The militant group said they will raise their complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman and the Land Transportation Office for possible criminal liability of the concerned police unit.

Abarientos also urged the Regional Internal Affairs of Police Regional Office 7 to conduct its own investigation.

CCPO officer-in-charge Senior Supt. Mariano Natuel, Jr. revealed that the vehicle is now owned and used by a police officer assigned in Fuente Police Station, after it was sold to him by one of the suspects’ parent, Elvis Pacador.

Natuel said the suspects in the drive-by shooting are out on bail.

After turning over the car to the CIB, Pacador was able to get a court order allowing him to get back the vehicle and just present it as evidence if required by the court.

Natuel said if needed, Pacador can explain the status of his car. —/MBG (FREEMAN)