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) 
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