Pubdate: Sun, 16 Jun 2002 Source: Sun Star Cebu (Philippines) Copyright: 2002 Sun Star Contact: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1690 Author: Karlon N. Rama FUENTE POLICE QUESTIONED FOR ARRESTING, CHARGING 5 BAR GIRLS OVER PACK OF SHABU ARE cops using police checkpoints as a venue for abuse and oppression? The question was raised late Thursday afternoon as court reporters witnessed members of the Fuente Police Station file drug possession charges against five bar girls caught with shabu at a supposed checkpoint Wednesday dawn. All five Thelma de la Calzada, Joy Rizon, Aida Cuyos, Nardiza Cabuenas and Shiela Mae Morales were charged even though, based on the policemen's own joint affidavit, only one pack of shabu was recovered in the incident. Also, the pack was found not in the hands of one of the girls but under the drivera TMs seat of the taxi the ladies were in when they were stopped at a checkpoint on Gen. Maxilom Ave., near the former Foodarama. The policemen, SPO2 Rex Cabrera, PO2 Albert Makinano and PO1 Dennis Labra, weren't able to establish who owned the shabu but they arrested the five and let the driver go. According to the policemen, this is because they saw through the cab's windows that the ladies were passing the shabu around. They then proceeded with the filing of the complaint and detained the five ladies overnight. Finding inconsistencies, City Prosecutor Jose Pedorsa ordered a thorough analysis of the complaint affidavit, saying that procedures dictate that only one persona "the one found actually holding the drugs "should be charged with illegal possession. "Charging more than one person for illegal possession can only happen if there is a pot session," he said. He maintained that since the five were inside a taxi, it is improbable that they were conducting a pot session inside the vehicle. Assistant City Prosecutor Enriquietta Belarmino, who is handling the preliminary investigation of the complaint, has called for a clarificatory hearing to thresh out the matter. She also ordered the five girls to submit their counter-affidavit, which the girls promptly did. In their counter-affidavit prepared by the Office of the Public Attorney, the girls called the allegations against them "overly exaggerated, incredible, impossible and lies." They asked that a reenactment of the search be conducted, to show the prosecutor what actually happened. One of the girls told Sun.Star the police forced one of them to admit to the possession rap and the others would be freed. They must also help secure the P18,000 bond that the court would most likely impose on the one caught with the drug. Upon hearing this, sources at the Palace hint that the complaint against the five was filed just so the police could cash in on the commissions bond companies offer to those who could bring detained suspects to them. The word at the Palace of Justice is that this is a common practice among policemen. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth