Cebu fiscal cries foul over higher-up’s statement

CEBU CITY — The assistant provincial prosecutor has cried foul over the regional state prosecutor’s statement that he has no authority to represent the state in the case involving alleged members of the Hong Kong triad.

Assistant provincial prosecutor Romeo Bulotano told The Freeman that provincial prosecutor Rodolfo Go assigned him to represent the state in the case.

"What authority are they talking about? Who else will appear? I am the resident prosecutor," he said.

Bulotano said Regional Trial Court Judge Ildefonso Suerte also ordered him to represent the state in the motion to quash the search warrant earlier issued against suspected drug courier and Hong Kong triad henchman Nanan Jimenez.

Jimenez, along with his brother Jovan and their friend Victor Ceniza, were arrested for drug possession late last month in Barangay Kasambagan by elements of the city police’s detective bureau.

Bulotano said he received Suerte’s order last Sept. 18 and immediately filed an opposition to the Sept. 14 motion of Jimenez’s lawyer to quash the search warrant.

Bulotano said he was very much demoralized by the statements of his superiors.

"Our superiors don’t coordinate, don’t appreciate our efforts," he said.

Regional state prosecutor Hernando Masangkay said Bulotano should explain why he appeared in the case without clearance from his superiors, adding that neither he nor Go authorized Bulotano to handle the case.

Meanwhile, city police director Hiram Benatiro admitted that the city police was demoralized by accusations that his office took bribes from Taiwanese national Chang Weng Kuen, an alleged triad member.

Chang, the alleged drug supplier of the three arrested suspects, was among those nabbed in the raid but was released after allegedly negotiating with the police.

Denying that he received any money from Chang, Benatiro welcomed the investigation which regional police chief Avelino Razon has ordered.

Benatiro said that even if he did not get any directive from Razon or if there was no order to investigate the city police, he would have personally requested his superiors to probe the allegations. — Freeman News Service