PNP chief orders investigation on alleged police brutality in Calamba

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Camilo Cascolan ordered an immediate investigation into allegations of “brutality and sloppy police work” from the intelligence section of the Calamba PNP.

According to the PNP, Cascolan directed the Internal Affairs Service, Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and the Police Regional Office 4A to investigate the matter.

“I am taking to task the Regional Director of PRO4A to ensure availability of all personnel of CALAMBA City Police Station for investigation to establish the true facts behind these reports,” Cascolan said in a statement.

“Investigation is now ongoing and I expect to obtain an initial report with the day at the latest. I am not inclined to take everything hook line and sinker just until all unanswered questions are satisfied by a thorough investigation in the interest of truth and fair play,” he added.

Cascolan issued the statement after receiving a complaint from Milagros Alora.

In a letter addressed to Cascolan, Alora said that she received a call on Friday afternoon that ten individuals in civilian clothes who introduced themselves as agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency “barged into” her home to arrest her son, Victor Emmanuel, for alleged drug pushing.

Alora said the alleged agents did not have any warrant of arrest nor did they have a search warrant.

“They beat him up. Ransacked the house, STOLE the sales and goods of the shop, stole the CCTV cameras, got the money of the lived-in partner and stole the cellphone, money, and motorcycle of Victor's driver,” Alora said.

She said her five-month-old grandchild was also hurt in the encounter, adding that the alleged PDEA agents also took the food in their refrigerator.

Due to the number of witnesses, Alora said the alleged agents did not arrest her son and instead waited until 8 p.m.

“[They] barged into the shop the second time and forcibly took my son, his driver, and shop employee. One neighbor who tried to intervene and help my son was even warned not to do so and an agent even poked a gun at him,” she said.

After checking PDEA’s regional office, Alora said there was no operation in Calamba nor was there a record of her son under the agency’s surveillance.

She later received a call from Police Officer Legado of the Calamba PNP, confirming that Emmanuel was in their custody.

“I spoke to one Lieutenant Ignacio who said she would verify but never called me back. After several unanswered calls, there was this Police officer LEGADO that confirmed that my son was in their custody,” she said.

“I had to call up Camp Crame, Camp Vicente Lim to find out what happened to my son and his companions. I was given the runaround. If this thing can happen to any ordinary citizen, what about the rest of the people who have no means to defend themselves against this police brutality and thievery,” she added.

Meanwhile, the PNP chief expressed hope that all individuals involved in the issue would cooperate with the investigation. — DVM, GMA News