Four agents of PDEA charged by their ‘victim’

A criminal complaint has been filed against four agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for allegedly planting evidence incriminating an innocent person, illegal arrest and perjury.

The complainant, Arnelio Machado, of Barangay Cuyab, San Pedro, Laguna, alleged that SPO2 Marcelino Male, SPO1 Roberto Monzon, PO2 Luisito Aninias and PO2 Ronald Digman snatched and brought him to a safehouse and later demanded P1 million for his release.

Not having the money, Machado claimed he was forced to pose as a buyer of shabu.

Machado’s lawyer filed a petition for review of the case with the Justice Secretary’s office on Aug. 23, 2005, but the PDEA later filed a motion for reconsideration, which the Department of Justice denied on Dec. 6, 2005.

A senior superintendent of the PDEA allegedly bragged that he could ask Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita to overturn the DOJ decision.

A high-ranking DOJ official, however, said there have been numerous cases where PDEA agents extorted money from individuals by planting evidence and demanding a huge sum in exchange for their release from PDEA custody.

"Machado’s case is not the first case ever filed in the DOJ against PDEA (agents) and I am sure it will not be the last," the official said.