11 jailed ‘punks’ to face police ‘tormentors’ in court

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Eleven "punks" who were arrested last Feb. 14 for allegedly taking part in the New People’s Army (NPA) raid on a military detachment in Mankayan, Benguet, are facing their "police tormentors" in court this coming week.

Lawyer Pablito Sanidad of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), who is leading a battery of human rights lawyers and veteran legal professionals aiding the "punks," said six policemen will be quizzed on why they effected the arrest without any warrant.

Sanidad identified the six police officers as Superintendent Brent Madjako, commander of the 1604th Police Provincial Mobile Group; SPO1 Alyson Kalang-ad; and Senior Inspector Joseph Paulo Bayongansan and PO2s Jonathan Pucya, Wendell Baglao and James Ayan, all of the 3rd Company of the Regional Police Mobile Group.

The 11 "punks" were arrested in a police checkpoint in Buguias town, four days after the NPA raid on a military detachment in Barangay Cabiten in nearby Mankayan town.

Three soldiers were killed and 28 high-powered firearms were carted away during the rebels’ assault.

The group was riding in a dump truck bound for Mt. Province when the police accosted them.

One of the suspects, Rundren Berloize Lao, 24, said they were hitching a ride to Sagada, Mt. Province when they were arrested.

Lao and his fellow "punks" claimed that their arresting officers had "tortured" them.

The six policemen will be subpoenaed to appear in court on March 30 and 31, having sworn in their affidavits that they were the ones who arrested the 11 "punks," Sanidad said.

The government prosecutor informed Judge Agapito Laoagan of Regional Trial Court Branch 62 here in a hearing last Thursday that he is presenting the six police officers.

Last week, Sanidad and lawyers Noe Villanueva, Reynaldo Cortes, Jose Molintas, Juris Dacawi, Randy Kinaud and Eric Santos filed a motion to quash the charges of robbery with homicide filed against the suspects, arguing that there was no probable cause.

The case was transferred here from Buguias town upon the prosecution’s request.

After the hearing last Thursday morning, 50 "punks," a dozen of them coming from Pasig City, and friends of the 11 suspects visited them at the Benguet provincial jail.