Car inspection triggers Ormoc standoff

ORMOC CITY, Philippines – A standoff lasted for 12 hours between elements of the Regional Police Safety Battalion and the group of Eufrocino “Winnie” Codilla Jr. starting last Sunday afternoon at a police checkpoint here after Codilla refused to submit his car for inspection.

Senior Superintendent Ramil Ramirez, the battalion’s chief, earlier said they got reports that Codilla was allegedly seen in the company of armed men on a dark green Toyota Hilux in Barangay Lake Danao.

Ramirez detained Codilla in his car along with four other men, two of them identified as one Michael Jacinto and Tatta Yunson, after he refused to open the car windows for cursory inspection.

Tension ran high as people massed at the checkpoint, and Army soldiers had to beef up the police unit there.

But Ramirez later had to let go of Codilla’s group after Judge Clinton Nuevo denied his application to search Codilla’s car.

City election officer Rose Ann Politisco said the checkpoint was unauthorized as Ramirez did not coordinate it with her.

Codilla is the eldest brother of Mayor Eric Codilla, who ran for Congress against Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez, and Edward Codilla who was pitted against Richard Gomez in the city mayoral race.