MANDAUE City College (MCC) officials yesterday filed five cases at the ombudsman office against city policemen who arrested Dr. Paulus Cañete, former school president, during the feast day of Mandaue City.
Supt. Vicente Mersan Premne; Insp. Rainero Cortes; SPO1s Arnulfo Quiachon, Kerwin Bejer and Rico Cabatingan; and PO3 Protacio Tago Jr. were charged with arbitrary detention, grave coercion, violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, incriminatory machination and obstruction of justice.
The charges stemmed from the arrest of Cañete for illegal gun possession inside his car, which was parked in front of Our Lady of Fatima church in Barangay Basak at 8:30 p.m. last May 8.
The school officials alleged in their affidavit that the lawmen opened the door, while one of them suddenly entered the vehicle. The other policemen also allegedly told them they were invited for custodial investigation without showing any arrest or search warrants.
Allegation
School officials later realized they were arrested for illegal possession of firearm.
Premne, for his part, maintained the earlier allegation made by witness Gavino Cabahug that the light inside the vehicle turned on as soon as the one sitting beside the driver got out.
Premne said that it was then that police saw Cañete hand the gun to Cabahug, who stood outside the car door.
Cañete, who was with his lawyer yesterday, is facing a charge for illegal gun possession. He is out on a P60,000 bail.
The other school officials with him that night were not charged, although City Hall officials might file an administrative complaint against them.
In their joint-affidavit Cañete, Elmer Ripalda, Reynaldo Colegado, Katrina Cortes, Melba Villamor and Rolda Branoco said the police planted the gun on them. (OCP)
