Trader sues 3 Bulacan cops for wrongful arrest

INQUIRER.net stock photo MANILA, Philippines — A businessman, who was allegedly mistakenly arrested in Bulacan last week filed administrative complaints against three police officers before the National Police Commission (Napolcom). The victim, identified only by the alias “Jun,” appeared before Napolcom at its Quezon City headquarters on Tuesday to lodge the cases against the police officers. “Jun” was allegedly mistakenly arrested by the officers in front of a restaurant in Baliwag City last Thursday afternoon. Article continues after this advertisement Speaking to reporters after filing the administrative complaint, Jun said a man approached the restaurant staff claiming that his vehicle had been hit. When Jun went outside to inspect his car, several men suddenly approached him, introducing themselves as police officers but supposedly failing to present any warrants, and allegedly attempted to force him inside a vehicle. “They were forcing me into the car… I was really scared,” he recounted in Filipino. The officers were then told by a confidential informant that they had apprehended the wrong individual, prompting them to back off, according to a Police Regional Office Central Luzon (PRO 3) spot report. At the press briefing, Napolcom Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan pointed to several irregularities in the operation. Article continues after this advertisement “They should know first whom they’re arresting. The warrant wasn’t clear. While the presence of the warrant is not necessary, perhaps, they should’ve studied first whom they were arresting,” Calinisan said. “All of this is a red flag.” he added. Article continues after this advertisement Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. previously said the police officers involved have since been relieved from their posts and reassigned to the PRO 3 Regional Holding Accounting Unit. Nartatez also said the three implicated officers’ commander was also relieved from his post for command responsibility. Meanwhile, PRO-3 noted that the three implicated officers have since undergone inquest proceedings for criminal cases for physical injury, unjust vexation, grave coercion, slander by deeds and attempted kidnapping. (Rendell Ivan Manuel, INQUIRER.net trainee) /gsg Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.