Davao columnist sues police, military over her arrest resulting from mistaken identity

Davao City-based columnist Margarita Valle filed kidnapping, serious illegal detention, gross misconduct among a slew of criminal complaints against officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippines Army over her nine-hour detention last month which turned out to be a case of mistaken identity.

Among those named respondents were PNP chief Oscar Albayalde, Jr., Army 1st Infantry Assistant Division commander Brigadier General Jacinto Bareng, and at least 11 others.

In her 20-page complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman, Valle said that the respondents arrested her without a warrant, denied her right to seek legal counsel, and did not inform her of the reason for her arrest, among other criminal acts.

“I demanded from the apprehending team that I be apprised of what are those charges that they are hurling against me. I demanded for their names but they vehemently refused. At the time they were arresting me, none of them were wearing police uniforms, which would have aided me in identifying those who arrested me. All my legitimate demands fell on deaf ears,” the 60-year-old columnist said.

“Hence, I hold these respondents accountable for blatantly denying me of my rights as a person under arrest,” Valle added.

GMA News Online is already trying to reach out to the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for comment.

Valle, a veteran journalist and development worker, was arrested by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Region 9 at 10:30 a.m. last June 9 while waiting for her flight home to Davao City on the warrant of arrest issued against Elsa Renton.

Renton's aliases include Tina Maglaya and Fidelina Margarita Valle.

Renton, an alleged communist party member, has standing warrants of arrest for arson and multiple murder with quadruple frustrated murder and damage to government property.

Valle was released at around 8:45 p.m., after nine hours of detention in Pagadian City, about 200 kilometers away from the Laguindingan Airport.

“I have never felt so uncertain in my life until that day. The thought of the possibility that I could be killed and my body could not be found by my family crossed my mind, or that I could be the next victim of enforced disappearance sent chills down on my spine,” Valle said in her complaint.

Other police and military officials sued by Valle were:

• Lieutenant Marlowe Patria, commanding officer of the 53rd Infantry Battalion, 102nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Philippine Army
• Colonel Bernard Banac, spokesperson of the PNP
• Police Colonel Tom Yuzon, Director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Region 9
• Police Colonel Redentor Lantaca Retusto, Provincial Director of Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Police
• Police Colonel John Guyguyon, Deputy Regional Director for Operations of PNP Region 9
• Police Chief Superintendent Modhin Panturan, Chief of the Provincial Intelligence Branch Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Police Office
• Police Lieutenant Colonel Mardito Anguluan, Director of Regional Mobile Forces Battalion
• Police Captain Madzdie-Aziz Mukaram, leader of the CIDG Zamboanga del Sur Region 9, among others.

“Indeed, the said respondents have tortured me mentally and psychologically when they held me captive,” Valle said.

“In the meantime, I pray that the above-named respondents be put under preventive suspension,” Valle added.

The PNP, through the Pubic Information Office said "As we have said, Ms. Valle has every right to file a complaint if she feels her rights had been violated."

"We will face these accusations squarely in due time before the proper forum." — with Anna Felicia Bajo/MDM/BAP, GMA News