THE Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) is ready to answer the charges filed by the minor-witness on the “Sagay 9” incident, through his mother, against the three cops assigned in Sagay for allegedly coercing him to testify on the incident.
Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil Jr., director of Nocppo, said on Wednesday, November 5, that they’ve been expecting the camp of the minor, through the assistance of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), to press charges against the policemen.
“Expected naman na din yun. Karapatan din naman nila yun” (It was expected. It’s also their right to do it), he added.
On December 4, the minor, represented by his mother, filed child abuse charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Chief Inspector Robert Mansueto, chief of Sagay City Police Station, and two personnel of Women and Children’s Protection Desk for allegedly violating the handling of a child-witness by allowing the minor to be interviewed alone without the consent of his parents or guardians or the presence of a counsel.
Mansueto earlier insisted that the minor was not forced when he executed his affidavit to testify on the incident, as he considered the complaint as “fabricated.”
The custody of the minor has been part of the controversy after he was considered by the police, as a primary witness on the massacre of nine farmers at Hacienda Nene in Bulanon village on October 20.
Despite the filing of the case, Castil said they will stick on their investigation about the incident, and will defend it through their evidence in court.
“Nandyan na yan eh. Tinanggap ng fiscal kaya may basis naman sila siguro (It’s already there. The fiscal approved it because they probably had a basis for the filing of the case),” Castil said.
Another criminal complaint for violation of Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act was also filed by the minor’s mother before the DOJ against his estranged husband, Vic Pedaso, for allegedly threatening her to return their son to him.
The minor was first under the custody of Sagay City Police Station for safekeeping and was turned over to Sagay City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) for debriefing after his traumatic experience.
But the mother and son took sanctuary in Manila, through the assistance of Karapatan-Negros and NUPL, after they feared for their safety, following the issue on the custody of the child-witness.
Pedaso earlier filed kidnapping charges against NUPL member and minor’s legal counsel, Katherine Panguban, for allegedly taking his son into their custody.
The kidnapping charges are now with the DOJ in Manila for appropriate disposition. (GYM)