Daughter seeks CHR help: Probe PDEA over parents’ alleged ‘unlawful’ arrest

CEBU, Philippines — The daughter of a couple arrested in a buy-bust operation last Wednesday sought help from the Commission on Human Rights for the alleged unlawful arrest of her parents and for valuables that went missing during the operation.

Annaliza Loremas, daughter of Reynaldo Abella and Perla Abella, who were arrested in their home by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) - 7 in Barangay Labangon last Wednesday dawn, insists that her parents are innocent.

PDEA-7 Director Emerson Margate has said that 55 grams of suspected shabu worth P275,000 were seized from Reynaldo and Perla during the buy-bust operation.

In an interview with members of the media, Loremas said that it is impossible that her parents had sold drugs to the operatives since they were all asleep at the time the buy-bust was allegedly conducted.

"Nakamata ko mga alas dos, nangihi. Nakit-an nako nga naa'y nagkagubot sa balay sa ako iyaan. Mga laki nga naka-mask. Unya sunod sa amo na sad sila balay nisulod," said Loremas.

She added that she only learned that the masked men were PDEA agents after she saw 'PDEA' printed on the vests of the men who went inside their house.

Loremas said that the agents asked for her younger brother known as 'Reneboy.' When she told them that her brother was not around, the operatives allegedly went to the second floor of their house and looked for her parents who were then asleep.

"Ang akong ginikanan kay gipugos nila og pailis unya pagkahuman gipanaog. Kami kay gipasaka sa taas tanan. Wala nami nakahibawo unsa'y nahitabo sa ubos, ang amo lang nadunggan ang hilak sa ako mama," Loremas said.

She also said that the PDEA agents were still around when they discovered that several cellphones and more than P20,000 in cash had gone missing.

"Illegal pa gani ilang gibuhat kay mag-mask sila tanan unya wala man lang nagpakita og ID," said Loremas.

For his part, Margate reiterated that the operation against the Abella couple was legitimate.

He said that Reynaldo has been on PDEA-7's watchlist even before he took over as regional director.

On the missing valuables, Margate is urging the family to file the complaint so they can conduct an investigation.

He said that this has become a consistent complaint, adding that he wants to verify whether the same team was involved in previous incidents.

It has been reported that some of PDEA-7 agents are facing cases before the Ombudsman after an alleged drug suspect arrested in Mandaue City last July filed a robbery complaint where they allegedly lost P7.7 million worth of cash and jewelry during a PDEA operation in their home.

"I welcome reports na mga ganito kasi tsinitsek ko din naman kung naging consistent ba ang mga reports na ganito sa mga agents natin," said Margate

"Hindi po natin ito uupuan nalang at isawalang-bahala. The agency does not tolerate this action kung mayroon man, sayang naman ang na-gain na accomplishment ng Cebu kung mayroong ganito," he added.

However, Margate is also not discounting the possibility that the allegation of robbery in the Abella case is a tactic used by the suspects to divert the public's focus.

"Imbis na paakyat na tayo tapos iyong mga nahuli natin na siyang clamour ng public ay na-focus na tuloy tayo sa nawawalang mga gamit kaysa sa drugs na mas maraming napirwisyo at nasira," Margate said.

He said that he is encouraging the family to file the complaint so they can investigate if there were any lapses done by their agents in the conduct of the drug bust.

Margate also suggested that the investigation be conducted by the PDEA national headquarters to show fairness. (FREEMAN)