Probe shows political detainee nabbed by CIDG

THE political detainee earlier reported to have been arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP) is confirmed to have been nabbed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

PNP-Northern Mindanao Chief Superintendent Gil Hitosis said based on their investigation, the CIDG arrested Rolando Baranggan last August 15.

“We conducted investigation and we found out na ang CIDG ang nag-arrest kay Baranggan dahil may standing warrant of arrest siya,” Hitosis told Sun.Star.

Records showed that Baranggan is a former detainee who was charged with robbery, illegal possession of firearms and murder last February 15, 2009.

After three years of trial, he was released from detention early this year through a court order issued by the Regional Trial Court of Libertad in Butuan City, which was executed by Officer-in-Charge Provincial Warden Luisito Azura.

Around 5 p.m. of August 15, Baranggan was allegedly arrested by a combined police operatives and according to his relatives, he was brought to Camp Alagar.

However, Baranggan’s relatives sought legal assistance from the Union of People’s Lawyer in Mindanao (UPLM), including the petition for a writ of habeas corpus, after they found out that there was no record of his arrest at Camp Alagar.

It was learned that Baranggan was supposed to be turned over to Camp Alagar but was not materialized due to some reasons.

Earlier, a militant group vowed to press charges against Hitosis and the policemen who arrested Baranggan which, according to his relatives, was done without any warrant of arrest.

Hitosis said he welcomes any legal action from Baranggan’s relatives.

“Karapatan nila ‘yan at willing naman tayong sagutin anumang complaint ang ipa-file nila,” he said. (ALR)