Court junks search warrant for Revilla house

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna , Philippines  â€“ The Cavite regional trial court has denied the warrant applications by the police to search the house of Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. in Bacoor City.

Senior Superintendent Edwin Erni, commander of the Task Force SAFE (Secure and Fair Election) 2013, said the Cavite provincial police have failed to secure the search warrant three times from various courts in Cavite and in Metro Manila.

“We’re only performing our duty, no politics was involved here. We’re just following all procedures for our police operation and legal remedy. We don’t know why our application has been denied,” Erni told The STAR.

Erni said they are now awaiting an order from the Philippine National Police (PNP) over the situation.

He said policemen are still deployed in the perimeter of the Revilla house, verifying reports of several people sneaking in the senator’s house during the night.

However, Cavite Provincial Police spokesman Superintendent Rommel Estolano said the 40 policemen deployed in the area have been ordered to pull out yesterday.

Estolano said the contingent from the Regional Police Safety Battalion was pulled and sent back to Imus.

Estolano said they do not consider the development as a setback to their operations. He added they were able to arrest six men for violating the gun ban.

Last Monday, six armed men believed to be agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) were arrested for violating the election gun ban.

The Cavite police made the arrest after receiving reports of the presence of armed men near Revilla’s compound at about 1 a.m. on election day.

Recovered from the suspects were two caliber .45 pistols, six magazines for caliber .45 pistol loaded with 52 live ammunition and one magazine for AK 47 rifle with 25 rounds.

The six armed men, five of them alleged NBI confidential agents, were charged for gun ban violation, usurpation of authority and unauthorized use of uniform.

The alleged “confidential agents” have posted bail while one suspect, reportedly an organic NBI personnel, is still being investigated.

Revilla accused Cavite policemen of harassment for allegedly trying to enter his compound after an encounter with armed men who claimed to be from the NBI.

Revilla said the policemen are making it appear that his compound has several firearms. He also accused the Cavite police of engaging in partisan politics.

Police, however, said they are running after alleged agents of the NBI who violated the election gun ban and sought refuge in Revilla’s house along Aguinaldo Highway in Bacoor.

Police said about 30 armed men ran to Revilla’s house after they were invited for questioning.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. said the comments made by Revilla would not discourage Cavite policemen from performing their duty.

“Life goes on for the Cavite PPO (Provincial Police Office) with regard to the performance of their duty. We still have mission there like law enforcement and maintenance of peace and order and public safety,” Cerbo said.

“These will continuously be performed by the Cavite PPO and would not be derailed by the accusations from Senator Revilla and family,” he added.

Cerbo stressed that while they respect the views of the senator, they are ready to face the allegations against them.

“There is a proper venue to answer the accusations. If they file a case, we will welcome it and if a resolution calling for a hearing is filed before the Senate, we will also welcome and we will cooperate,” Cerbo said.

 â€“  Alexis Romero