MANILA, Philippines - Rommel Arnado, the mayor of Kauswagan town in Lanao del Norte, and two municipal employees are facing charges in connection with the alleged illegal eviction of a family from their houses.
Three counts of grave coercion and three counts of malicious mischief were filed against Arnado, Rey Camanian of the civil security unit of the Kauswagan police and Lauro Diputado, a casual employee of the CSU, before the Sandiganbayan on April 2.
Based on the complaints, the respondents used “violence, threats and intimidation” to force Ibra, Osama and Farhana Sambuat and their relatives to vacate their houses in Barangay Tacub. The ombudsman said the respondents also demolished the houses and took the personal belongings of the victims on Oct. 21 and 30 and Nov. 18 in 2013.
The ombudsman set the bail at P60,000 each.