Lawmaker mulls raps for illegal raid on headquarters

MANILA, Philippines - Malabon-Navotas Rep. Jaye Lacson-Noel is preparing to file charges against 12 Quezon City police officers who allegedly conducted an illegal raid on her political headquarters in Malabon City Tuesday.

Noel said they were reportedly “harassed” by the 12-man team led by Chief Inspector Wilfredo Alfonso of the Quezon City police Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU), and that when the policemen left, her employees discovered that her office laptop and two cell phones were missing.

“What were the Quezon City police doing at my headquarters? Why did they conduct a search in the absence of a search warrant and without even coordinating with the local police authorities?” Noel complained.

She said she is talking to her lawyer and the National Bureau of Investigation for the filing of appropriate charges against the raiding team.

Senior Superintendent Roberto Villanueva, Malabon City police chief, said that at around 1 p.m. Tuesday, Alfonso and his men arrived at the Bagong Sinag Federation office on C. Arellano street in Barangay Ibaba, Malabon City, which also serves as Noel’s headquarters, in search of “Tisoy,” a prime suspect in a recent shooting of a ranking police official in Quezon city.

“Alfonso claimed they have information that their suspect Tisoy is an employee of Bagong Sinag but they failed to find him there,” Villanueva said.

Villanueva said Alfonso committed several lapses in police operational procedure when they entered the Bagong Sinag Federation office without a search warrant and without coordinating with the local police.

He said Alfonso coordinated with the Northern Police District Tactical Operation Center (NPDTOC) about their operation in Caloocan City “but not in Malabon.”

Jondi Lacson, Noel’s younger brother, said they will file charges of trespassing, illegal search, robbery “and all possible cases... including election gun ban violation, for only Alfonso was in police uniform while his men, who were in civilian clothes, were also armed.”

Alfonso told The STAR that he introduced himself to the headquarter's caretaker, who allowed them in of his own volition. He denied any irregularities and added that they are ready to face charges.     – With Reinir Padua