Ex-police chief, other cops, face raps for “harassment”

CEBU, Philippines - A former police chief of Talisay City and at least 12 policemen are facing strings of criminal and administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas for allegedly harassing a couple.

Spouses Adhmann and Priscilla Canangca-an filed the complaints against former Talisay City police chief Aileen Recla and 12 to 15 policemen for alleged violation of domicile, robbery, and grave threats, conduct unbecoming of a police officer, grave abuse of authority, and conduct prejudicial to the police service.

The couple wants the cops suspended preventively while the Ombudsman investigates the case and to dismiss them eventually.

In their complaint-affidavit, the Canangca-ans alleged the respondent police officers transgressed their rights and compelled Adhmann to go into "hiding," fearing for his safety.

"All respondents have gone beyond the ambit of presumption of regularity of performance of duty resulting to abuses and felonies, thereby making them liable criminally and administratively," reads part of the complaint.

Adhmann allegedly had participation in the shootout that involved the Talisay police and barangay councilman Felix Abacajan Jr., an alleged hitman and Ahmann's cousin, earlier this month in Barangay Maghaway, Talisay City.

The incident led to the death of Abacajan's younger brother, Joeser, and a certain Julian Bonghanoy Jr.

Adhmann allegedly drove Abacajan to help him escape. He, however, surrendered to the police a few days after to clarify that he is not involved in the shootout.

He was still arrested days later but was able to post bail.

Lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo, the couple's counsel, said the couple decided to file the complaints after their family had been left fearing for their lives and traumatized by alleged harassment by the police who allegedly raided their house without a search warrant.

Police also allegedly took the hard disk of the closed-circuit television in their house without their consent.

Adhmann alleged that after he was arrested, he was interrogated without a lawyer and was punched in the chest.

Villagonzalo said the Canangca-an family had been receiving anonymous calls and texts and had noticed cars with no plate number cruising around their house following the raid. (FREEMAN)