Gica, brother face complaints for arbitrary detention

CEBU, Philippines - Dumanjug, Cebu Vice Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica and his brother are facing criminal complaints for allegedly barging into a house and "illegally" arresting two persons accused of selling illegal drugs.

A certain Leomar Cabales filed yesterday complaints of arbitrary detention and violation of domicile, which is punishable under the Revised Penal Code, against Gica and town Councilor Erwin Gica before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

The same complaint was also filed with the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor's Office.

Cabales said he and his three cousins were about to sleep at their aunt's house in Barangay Li-ong, Dumanjug when six armed men, including one whom he later recognized as Erwin, "immediately" entered their dwelling and searched for shabu by ransacking the things inside.

The incident allegedly took place at 8 p.m. Monday last week.

Cabales said Erwin was carrying a gun of still unidentified caliber and that there was no mention if the dangerous drugs were indeed all recovered.

"The said armed men forced me and my cousin Carlito Hontiveros to walk for about 100 meters from my aunt's house to the house of Mayor Efren Gica with handcuffs in our arms," he said in his complaint-affidavit.

Upon arriving at Gica's house, Cabales and Hontiveros were allegedly ordered to lie down face to the ground while being handcuffed.

 Cabales said they were then forced to admit to selling shabu and asked where the illegal drugs were sourced from.

He said they were also told by Gica to vote for him in exchange for a job, and were then released when they agreed.

Gica is running for mayor against incumbent Mayor Nelson Gamaliel Garcia.

The FREEMAN contacted Gica for his side but his secretary said he was delivering a message in a political rally. Succeeding calls were also left unanswered. — (FREEMAN)