WHEN local law enforcers arrest criminals, they remind them about their rights, including these famous lines: “You have the right to remain silent. Any statement you make may be used for or against you in any court of law in the Philippines.”
These lines are from the Miranda Warning—and these were read to P/Maj. Ildefonso Miranda Jr. when he and a female detainee who was charged for selling illegal drugs were caught in the same room inside the police station in Argao, southern Cebu on Thursday night, March 5, 2020.
Miranda was still wearing his blue police athletic uniform when he was nabbed by the personnel of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (Imeg) Visayas Field Unit, the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division and the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) 7.
The woman he was with was identified as Jean Claudia de Guzman Villanueva, who is 23 and a native of Barangay Casay, Dalaguete.
Another detainee Brenda Caminero Cutillar, 40, was also inside Miranda’s room. She is also facing drug charges. Cutillar reportedly ran errands for Miranda such as cooking and cleaning the room.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director P/Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro ordered an investigation on all the Argao police personnel except for two officers, who acted as the whistleblowers on Miranda’s actions.
Temporary chief
P/Capt. Elstone Dabon Jr. was appointed as the officer in charge of the Argao Police Station on Friday, March 6. The pictures of the 25-year-old police official from Mandaue City were posted on radio dyLA Facebook page; the young officer’s apparent good looks drew humorous reactions from netizens. A female Facebook user commented: “Daghan na jud magpadakop mga babae ani (More women would turn themselves into jail).”
Not tied to marriage
On Friday morning, Ferro talked with Miranda at the RID 7 office in Cebu City; the latter refrained from being silent. In a brief talk with his superior, Miranda said he is not a married person, but he did not admit his relationship with the detainee as they were surrounded by journalists at the time.
However, Ferro said Miranda had committed an unlawful act by letting a detainee stay with him inside his room in the Argao Police Station.
Ferro said he was told that Miranda and Villanueva are lovers. Villanueva was caught in a drug bust in Barangay Langtad, Argao on Aug. 23, 2019. Miranda became the town’s police chief in the following month.
During a trial in Argao trial court, Villanueva reportedly availed herself of the plea bargaining agreement. So she admitted guilt in exchange of a lighter sentence. Last December, the court issued an order allowing Villanueva to undergo rehabilitation in a Mandaue City facility. It was not clear why it did not push through.
Miranda reportedly often took Villanueva out of the police station for dates at beach resorts in other towns and in some places in Cebu City. Ferro described the detainee as beautiful.
“He was seriously taking advantage of the arrested persons. They should be accorded with due respect,” Ferro said.
Ferro warned his personnel not to commit any unlawful acts.
“Under my watch, there is transparency and accountability. Every member of the PNP (Philippine National Police) must be respectful to the rule of law,” he said.
The operatives seized Miranda’s government-issued firearm, a Pietro Baretta with two magazines and his identification card.
Surveillance
Last March 4, the two Argao police officers and a municipal councilor reported Miranda to the Imeg Visayas Field Unit. A surveillance team was deployed; it was able to capture videos and pictures of Miranda together with Villanueva.
The joint raiding team barged inside Miranda’s quarters inside the police station at 11:20 p.m. Thursday. The operatives caught Villanueva on Miranda’s bed. The Imeg released a video clip of the operation to the media.
Charges
Miranda will be facing complaints for direct bribery, a violation under Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) ; removing a person in any jail or penal establishment, a violation under Article 156 of RPC; and for committing corrupt practices prohibited under Section 3 of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).
Ferro said Miranda’s arrest is part of the PRO 7 internal cleansing program. Miranda, he said, will be subjected to a drug test.
Disappointed
Miranda’s immediate superior Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) Director P/Maj. Roderick Mariano was disappointed with Miranda, who was the former human rights officer at the CPPO headquarters.
“Alam niyang bawal yan. Alam niyang hindi dapat yan (He knew it was illegal. He knew he should not have done it),” Mariano told reportrs. (AYB, BBT & GPL / KAL)