A CAUSE-ORIENTED group has urged the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Central Visayas to refrain from redirecting the blame on two activists who experienced being abducted by alleged government agents at the Cebu City pier area on January 10, 2023.
In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, Karapatan-Central Visayas spokesperson Dennis Abarrientos condemned the police for putting the blame on activists Dyan Gumanao and Armand Dayoha.
Abarrientos claimed Lieutenant Colonel Maria Theresa Macatangay, spokesperson for the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), challenged the two activists to cooperate in their investigation.
According to Abarrientos, Macatangay was quoted saying “unta dili pud sila maghilom-hilom kay sila ma’y gasugod ini (they should not stay silent as they are the ones who started all these).”
“It is ridiculous that police forces have now the gall to say this, when in fact, families and colleagues of the two victims sought their help way before they were rescued. This is clearly an attempt to redirect the public’s attention from the police, who were identified to be the captors,” Abarrientos added.
Abarrientos said that both victims are willing to cooperate with the police’s investigation.
“While we are more than willing to cooperate in investigation efforts in order to hold accountable perpetrators behind the abduction of Dyan and Armand, we stress the fact that the two are still recovering from the traumatic experience they went to. Until such time that they are well-enough to detail what really happened, we hope that the police can stop these unfair intimidation tactics against the victims and the general public who supported the two," Abarrientos added.
Karapatan-Central Visayas reiterates its call for the PRO-Central Visayas to use its resources to conduct a speedy and fair investigation into the abduction, especially into the members of its own police force for being identified as the perpetrators of the abduction. (JKV)