Admin case filed vs Camiguin prosecutor

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Northern Mindanao Region filed on Friday administrative charges against the provincial prosecutor in Camiguin who dismissed the drug case against a policeman.

Charged was Prosecutor Alma Concepcion Parreño for “apparent bias and grave abuse of discretion of her cursory conduct” in the review of the resolution that dismissed the drug case against Police Officer 2 Teotimo Vallar.

Mambajao Camiguin Regional Trial Court Branch 28 Judge Rustico Paderanga ordered Vallar’s release from detention on June 29 based on the recommendation of Parreño.

Roberto Opeña, PDEA regional director, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that their complaint has been filed last Friday before the Office of the Regional State Prosecutor (ORSP).

Based on PDEA’s complaint, they felt that Parreño “acted beyond her mandate, and what was mandated by law to determine the existence of probable cause based on the documents presented by the parties.”

Parreño dismissed the drug case against Vallar because “she was not quite convinced that PDEA conducted a buy-bust during his arrest which she based specially on the affidavit of Vallar’s several witnesses,” PDEA’s complaint stated.

But in a radio interview, Parreño said Vallar, through his counsel, has filed a motion for reinvestigation during the court’s arraignment, citing they “have not availed such chances to answer the complaint.”

She said the case against Vallar has been filed when his lawyer arrived, thus they decided to file a motion for reinvestigation

“There are many who witnessed for Vallar, in fact, almost one sitio. And PDEA did not give a proper answer,” Parreño said.

It was learned that a copy of the resolution dismissing Vallar’s case was also sent to the Office of Justice Secretary for review.

Parreño welcomed the charges filed against her by PDEA, saying she was not afraid because her resolution is clear as to why she dismissed the case.

Based on the information gathered by PDEA, Vallar’s father was a former judge in Camiguin.

PDEA also said Vallar’s two sisters are working at the Court of Appeals in Cebu and Manila.

“I felt sad with this incident considering that PDEA and the prosecutor’s office are supposedly partners in fighting against illegal drug in the region. Nalulungkot talaga ako kasi some of the prosecutors, parang pinapaboran pa ang mga accused,” Opeña said. (Annabelle L. Ricalde)