HPG-7 cops cleared of falsification charges

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has cleared the 14 policemen of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG)-7 of criminal and administrative liabilities for allegedly misleading a Cebu City court by submitting false document of an impounded vehicle in 2013.

In her seven-page resolution, Myra Dela Rama-Gargaceran, graft investigation and prosecution officer, dismissed for lack of evidence the administrative and criminal complaints against Superintendent Romualdo Iglesia, former HPG-7 chief, and 13 other policemen.

"Perusing the records, there is no evidence to show that respondents presented the assailed certification in court," read part of Gargaceran's resolution.

The other respondents are Chief Inspector Renny Eguia, former HPG-7 chief investigator, Senior Inspector Eduardo Mara, Senior Inspector Joselito Lerion, Inspector Rhandee Sibal, Senior Police Officers 1 Aldrin Golingan and Bienvenido Gamo, Police Officer 3 Wilfredo Jovellano, Police Officer 2 Rubelio Oriesga and Police Officers 1 Telesforo Bodo, Virgilio Suico, Julito Torreon, Lawrence Gagarin, and Erlando Metante Jr.

The complaint was filed by Maria Paz Yu, owner of the impounded vehicle, before the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices, accusing them of dishonesty, grave misconduct and falsification of public document.

It stemmed from the anti-carnapping operation of the police on August 8, 2012 in Banilad, Cebu City where they flagged down Yu's vehicle after they saw that it had no current registration sticker.  Upon inquiry with the Land Transportation Office, HPG-7 personnel found out that the vehicle's license plate belongs to a vehicle owned by Kudos Trucking.

But Yu said a document obtained from the LTO-7 shows that the license plate of Kudos Trucking's vehicle, a Toyota Hi-Ace S Grandia, is not JZN 100, but YET 868.

In her affidavit, Yu said a certified true copy of the computer printout was submitted to the Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 5 that states she owns a Honda Jazz with license plate JZN 100. The certificate of registration and the official receipt also list Yu as the owner.

In their counter-affidavit, the policemen denied the allegation, saying they were merely doing their duties and relied on the document released by LTO.   In the resolution, Gargaceran, the graft investigator, ruled there was no evidence showing that respondents presented the LTO certification in court.

The respondents are not authors of the questioned certification and they merely relied on the information stated on a public documents issued by a separate government agency, the ombudsman said.

"Even assuming that the certification was, indeed, marked or annexed as documentary evidence in court, still, the same will not suffice to hold respondents liable of the charges against them," said Gargaceran.  A separate case to determine whether the certification reflects correct registration details is also pending. (FREEMAN)