Newsmen back Lanao del Norte police chief

A group of Mindanao newsmen expressed their support yesterday for the Lanao del Norte provincial police commander who was caught inside a house that was raided by the Videogram Regulatory Board in its drive against film piracy.

Media men based in Iligan City said that Senior Superintendent Laut Sarip was even named the most outstanding PNP director in Mindanao for his various accomplishments, which include his stopping the jai-alai games in the province, which resulted in the arrest of financiers and illegal gamblers.

Interior and Local Governments Secretary Jose Lina Jr. has suspended Sarip after he was found inside a house in Maharlika Village that was reportedly the source of pirated video discs in Metro Manila.

Ely Barcelona, president of a media association based in Iligan City, said that Sarip is very strict when it comes to illegal business, such that Lanao del Norte is now free of illegal drugs and illegal gambling. He said that Sarip talked with Iligan newsmen after the raid and explained the circumstances behind his staying at the Taguig house.

He said that Sarip merely stayed at the house of his nephew in Taguig on his way to Mecca, Saudi Arabia on a pilgrimage.

"We were told that he had complete papers, visa and documents supporting his trip for the said pilgrimage. He will not tarnish his life doing an illegal thing while on his way to Mecca," Barcelona said.