Bohol prosecutor indicts 7 cops for illegal detention
THE Office of the Tagbilaran Provincial Prosecutor has indicted seven policemen from Talibon town in Bohol for illegally detaining the two companions of Provincial Board Member Niño Rey Boniel last Aug. 16.
Prosecutor Godwin Gamas found evidence to charge seven of eight policemen with arbitrary detention before the Municipal Circuit Trial Court in Trinidad, Bohol.
“It must be hard for the erring officials to face prosecution and the idea of being sent to jail must be unbearable, but it was never sweet also for the two detainees to be illegally deprived of their freedom,” reads Gamas’ six-page resolution.
The respondents are Regional Intelligence Division 7 chief Supt. Jonathan Cabal, SPO1 Alexander Garcia, PO3 Angelo Avenido, PO3 Lloyd Garcia, PO1 Fredereick Enriquez, PO1 Emmanuel Pagalan, and PO3 Ally Bornillo.
The prosecutor, though, dismissed for lack of evidence the unlawful arrest, grave coercion, grave threats, kidnapping, serious illegal detention, and violation of domicile against the respondents.
The prosecutor also dismissed for want of evidence the complaint against PO3 Virgilio Otara.
Complainants Wilson Hoylar and Brian Sayson were arrested for their alleged involvement in the kidnap-slay of Niño’s wife, Bien Unido Mayor Gisela Boniel.
They accused the policemen of unlawful arrest, arbitrary detention, grave coercion, grave threats, kidnapping, serious illegal detention, and violation of domicile.
Replying to the charges, the respondents said that the arrest and detention of the complainants were justified since there was an arrest warrant issued against them.
Gamas, however, said that the arrest warrant issued by Judge Altone Miralles commanded any law enforcers to arrest only Riolito Boniel, Ranidel Lupas, Wilfredo Hoylar and Restituto Magoncia Jr. for murder. It did not include the names of the complainants.
“The idea of prosecuting the respondents who are all law enforcement officers under the above provision may appear to be hard, but we must not forget that whatever the consequences may be, the law must be given its way,” Gamas said. (GMD)