Cops bewail new inquest procedure

Manila policemen expressed apprehension over a new inquest procedure which allows a suspect to go scot-free after a certain period of time after his arrest.

Police investigators and arresting officers chided some fiscals at the Manila Prosecutor’s Office for releasing suspects because they were arrested several days after the commission of the crimes.

Police claimed the fiscals are unanimous in their disposition that "acts complained of which happened days ago are no longer proper for inquest." This is due to a circular of the Department of Justice, the fiscals usually tell inquiring policemen.

Disgusted Manila policemen interviewed by The STAR claimed the new inquest procedure has greatly eroded their resolve to arrest a suspect no matter how long he has eluded the law.

It also brings injustice to victims of heinous crimes who are hoping the culprit will be put behind bars, the policemen added.

Policemen observed that when a suspect is brought to an inquest fiscal several days after the commission of the crime, a fiscal usually orders his release and blames the police officer for not submitting the case for inquest immediately after investigation.

Investigators countered that it would be impossible for a still unidentified suspect to be inquested. "Who shall we charge, how would we know his address and other personal circumstances?" they asked.

A veteran police investigator, who requested anonymity, pointed out that the relentless pursuit of an unnamed suspect usually takes time, and a positive identification from witnesses is necessary to establish his apparent guilt.

According to him, a suspect apprehended several days after the commission of the crime "usually benefits from this absurd inquest procedure."

He cited the case of Rolando Fernandez, 25, a notorious cell phone snatcher, who was the prime suspect in the murder of Archie Calooy, 21, last March 13. Initial efforts to identify the suspect proved futile and the case was assigned for follow-up.

On May 25, an informant revealed that Fernandez was detained at the Sampaloc police station for cell phone theft.

A witness in the stabbing of Calooy positively identified Fernandez as the person who stabbed Calooy to death.

However, when brought for inquest, the prosecutor ordered the release of Fernandez, despite the murder charge, "considering the case happened last March 13."

Investigators lamented that their efforts in pursuing the arrest of Fernandez were wasted because of the new inquest procedure, which they said will only embolden criminals to commit heinous crimes and then go into hiding for the reglamentary period to lapse and avoid arrest.

"The families of the victims are denied justice because of some technicalities beyond our control," the investigators lamented. — Nestor Etolle