Thursday, July 19, 2007 Anti-drug agents charged for pa's arrest By Stephen Capillas
CRIMINAL charges were lodged against five agents of the regional Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-10 (PDEA-10) who allegedly seized without a warrant an elderly man they accused of dealing illegal drugs last June 12, at his home in Ramonal Village, Barangay Camaman-an, this city.
In separate affidavit complaints filed before the City Prosecutor's Office, copies of which were obtained by Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro, complainants Hannah Jessel and Lady Ann Gabales claimed the PDEA-10 agents barged into their house and arrested their father without presenting a warrant.
The respondents were identified as Inspector Jophet Paglinawan, PDEA-10 operations chief, SPO3 Benjamin Amacane, SPO2 Melcher Fernandez, PO3 Benjamin Reycites, PO2 Cotta Tanggote and SPO Edgar Fernandez.
Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro tried but failed to contact the regional PDEA-10 office for their comment on the incident.
In their affidavit complaint, Hannah recounted that she and her family members were sleeping at their "dilapidated shanty" along with a one-year old girl when they were awakened by a "strong kick" on their home's front door.
She said they got alarmed and she carried the girl with her only to see her father being handcuffed by the PDEA-10 agents, who were allegedly drunk at the time.
Hannah claimed that when her father asked why he was being arrested, one of the agents pulled out a gun and told him to keep quiet and refrain from doing anything to avoid being harmed.
She said as the agents brought her father to the white van, several neighbors milled about and her sisters boarded the van to accompany their father while she was left to care for the girl whom she said developed a fever as a result of the incident.
Hannah said her father never dealt in methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu and does not even know what the substance is.
She said that her parents always sleep early because her father is asthmatic; and, in their affidavits, Lady Ann and her sister, a minor, alleged that one of the PDEA-10 agents identified only as a certain "Amac" sexually abused them in exchange for their father's release.
Lady Ann recounted that as they got interrogated by the PDEA-10 agents, one of them supposedly remarked that they "don't have any records" whatsoever.
She said "Amac" then told one of the agents to "produce evidence" and one agent unlocked a drawer to reveal a sachet of shabu.
"Amac" then produced a P200 bill from his pocket, Lady Ann alleged.
It was at this time, she said that "Amac" allegedly whispered to her that if she wants her father released, they should engage in sex.
Lady Ann claimed he even mashed her private parts at the time but managed to extricate herself and threatened to bring their case to the media.
"Amac" reportedly responded angrily by saying PDEA agents are "untouchables" and allegedly warned that there would be reprisals if she and her sisters did so.
The same account was given by her younger sister concerning the same agent. The sisters then reported the incident to radio station dxCC.
As this developed, charges of violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 have been filed by the City Prosecutor's Office against the PDEA-10 agents.
