Isko Moreno to file raps vs. policemen who arrested him, 5 others

(Updated 1:43 p.m.) Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno on Monday said he will file complaints against the policemen who arrested him and his companions over the weekend for allegedly hurting them. "Sinaktan ninyo kami, kinulong ninyo kami ng siyam [na] oras at kalahati. We're going to file a case or complaint against these men in uniform," Moreno (Francisco Domagoso in real life) told a news briefing at the Diamond Hotel in Manila. "Kung anong charges po ang ifa-file namin dun sa mga talagang maysala lamang, 'yun na po ay naaayon sa ipapayo sa amin ng aming mga lawyers but defnitely charges and complaint will be filed soon," he added. Moreno and five city councilors — Ernesto Isip Jr., Joel Chua, Ma. Asuncion Fugoso, Yul Servo Nieto, and former councilor Manuel Zarcal — were arrested Saturday for allegedly running an illegal numbers game, specifically bingo. They were released early Sunday after the city prosecutor ruled that there was insufficient evidence against them. During the scuffle, Moreno, a former actor, said he and his companions were hurt, with one of them even strangled by the police from the Manila Police District. Moreno is the running-mate of former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, who is challenging incumbent Mayor Alfredo Lim in the May elections. Nothing illegal "Pinag-aaraalan na po ng abogado ni President Erap at abogado po namin kung sino yung mga pulis na talagang nang-abuso, nanakit at may kasalanan. 'Yun lamang po ang pupuntiryahin namin hindi dahil bilang [ganti] kundi para ipaglaban ang aming mga karapatan at mabigyan naman ng hustisya yung aming mga sarili sa tamang proseso, sa magalang at matiising pamamaraan," he said as he maintained that they did nothing illegal. He explained that last Saturday, residents had informed them that police confiscated their bingo materials on the premise that bingo was considered illegal under Presidential Decree 1602. He said he immediately went to the site and explained to the policemen that the PD was amended by Republic Act 9287 in 2004 to exclude bingo. Moreno, who was a former ally of Lim, hinted that politics may be behind the arrest. "This is nothing new. This thing has been ongoing for the past so many years especially during the time na kakampi pa kami ng kasalukuyang administrasyon. Ngayon lang ho siyempre napalipat yata kami ng ibang partido kaya nag-iba na ho ang batas sa Maynila," he said. He added that their bingo game does not fall under the definition of an illegal numbers game because, unlike in other games, the people did not pay for the bingo cards. "The reason why we're there and anywhere na lagi namin ginagawa sa iba't-ibang dako ng Maynila eh kasimple-simple lang ho, para magpasaya ng tao wala naman ho ibang layunin," Moreno said. Mastermind He said they will also try to find out who was behind the orders to arrest them. Lim had challenged Moreno to resign if he fails to prove that it was him behind the incident. Moreno said technically the police are under the local chief executive but noted that he never named Lim as the mastermind. Estrada, who was also present during the briefing, said they may include Lim in the complaint if they can prove he was involved in it. "We'll see," he said in an ambush interview after the event. "Hindi ako magbibigay ng unlawful orders... it should always be a lawful order so that people will be protected," he added, referring to his 17-year stint as mayor of San Juan. LP denies hand in Moreno’s arrest The Liberal Party (LP), for its part, denied any involvement in Moreno’s arrest. Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, LP campaign spokesman, described the arrest as an “isolated case” that has nothing to do with local politics in Manila. “Walang kinalaman ang LP diyan. Hindi ito [Moreno’s arrest] party matter,” Evardone said at a separate press briefing. He challenged all those arrested to just face the charges and not point fingers on other politicians. “Dapat sila managot sa batas na nilabag tungkol sa illegal gambling.” Moreno is seeking re-election under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), LP’s main rival coalition in the upcoming polls. Lim, meanwhile, is running for Manila mayor under the ruling party. — with Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News