Pubdate: Sun, 30 Jan 2005 Source: Sunstar Pampanga (Philippines) Copyright: 2005 Sunstar Contact: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2252 Note: also listed as a contact Author: Art San Pedro Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Cited: Philippine National Police http://www.pnp.gov.ph WHO IS SAFE FROM PNP ROGUES? THE PNP, as a civilian armed force, is supposed to be the protector of the people. When misguided citizens and lawless elements disturb the peace and order of threaten the lives, limbs, property and liberty of our people, we call on this civilian police force for swift and retaliatory action. But no matter how good the senior officers and men of the PNP, it is continually haunted by an image problem, that is like an indelible ink which refuses to be erased. This serious image problem is caused by a few rogues, rascals and scoundrels who pull down, rather than enhance, the image of the PNP. This bad image dates back during the pre-martial law years of the defunct Philippine Constabulary. How can the nation forget the abuses of the military during the martial law years? How can we forgive an institution who, rather than guard our precious human rights and civil liberties, played the role of an executioner and hitman of the dictatorship in that dark and shameless era of our history? After close to 35 years, this police organization has failed to cleanse its image. I will not cite anymore my own account and personal experience in the hands of rogues in the police organization. Rather, I want to think of good days in the company of PNP officers and gentlemen like Gen. Percival Adiong, Gen. Edgar Aglipay, Gen. Ramsey L. Ocampo, Col. Carmelino Samson, Col. Arturo Morales, Col. Leonardo "Dindo" Espina, Col. Antonio Torres, and Col. Lino Calingasan. One of the latest abuse of the PNP men is an alleged handiwork of rogues against Fidencio "Tony" Perez et al who have been languishing in detention since September 2003 at the Angeles City District Jail, Camp Tomas Pepito, Sto. Domingo, Angeles City. The perpetuators are P/Insp. Elaine S. Villasais (team leader), PO3 Eric S. Mendoza, PO3 Jerry M. Espadera, PO2 Heisologo S. Trivino, PO1 Jesus G. Sampayan and PO2 Rommel Vital. They are all elements of the Angeles City Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU). Based on the affidavit of Fidencio A. Perez alias Tony Perez and corroborated by witnesses Daisy Matinez and Mary Ann Sarmiento, their ordeal is a violation of Sec. 11 and 12, Art 2, RA 9165 also known as the Dangerous Drugs Act. They were accused of holding a pot session at the recording studio of the Diana's Music Lounge in Dau, Mabalacat at about 4:00 p.m. Contrary to the allegations of the police, the group was not holding a shabu session. According to Tony Perez and company, the raid was a case of "Unlawful Search and Confiscation." Tony Perez, an American citizen and resident of Clarkview, Angeles City, owner of Diana's Music Lounge, said the raiding team headed by P/Insp. Elaine S. Villasis, actually conducted the raid without a search warrant and robbed him, Daisy Martinez and Mary Ann Sarmiento and Jennylyn Antonio P100,000 jewelry, necklace, gold wrist watch and other valuables. According to Jennylyn Antonio, encoder, and Daisy Z. Martinez, supervisor, they saw SPO2 Rommel Vital pull out small plastic sachet of shabu from the left pocket of his jacket and placed it in the front/left pocket of Larry Antonio, father of Jennylyn, who arrived at Diana's Music Lounge upon instructions of Villasis. On the morning of Aug. 3, 2003, Tony Perez reportedly asked Daisy R. Martinez to exchange US$2,000 to pesos in a nearby local money changer. Martinez gave the money, worth more than P100,000, to Perez. At about 4 p.m., the raiding team, all civies, barged into the recording studio, handcuffed Perez and companions, ransacked the room at the second floor, got the P100,000 of Perez, cell phone, jewelry, cash of his companions and other valuables. It looks like a robbery disguised as a sham shabu raid by six PNP operatives in civilian clothes without a warrant and worst, without introducing themselves to Tony Perez. This story has its own legal twists because the information earlier filed by the police to Fiscal Julieta Estanio was in violation of Sec. 11 and 12 of Art 2 RA 9165. However, she amended it to Sec. 13, a non-bailable offense, yet Estamo allowed them to post bail at P200,000 each. A month later the accused were re-arrested after the judge cancelled their bail bonds. They have been languishing in jail since then. The raiding team headed by Inspector Villasis reportedly inflicted heavy blows on Mary Ann Sarmiento, 25 years old, a composer and friend of Perez, who suffered lacerations on her face and other parts of the body. I will not comment on the legal issues because it is the business of lawyers. But nothing in the records showed that the raiding team was armed with a search warrant issued by a competent court, specifying the place to be searched and objects to be seized.. Moreover, the police claim they seized 20 grams of shabu. But in the information, the actual volume of the shabu inside the plastic sachet was only two tenths grams (.20 grams). Which is which, Sec. 11 & 12 of Art. II, Republic Act (RA) 9165 which is bailable or Sec. 13 which is non-bailable? How can a small plastic sachet contain 20 grams of shabu? Ang labo! If the real purpose of the raising team was to arrest Perez and his group for allegedly conducting a pot session, how come the P100,000 of Perez, the cell phone, necklace, gold wrist watch and other valuables were ransacked? Why harm a helpess woman, Mary Ann Sarmiento? (To be continued) - ---