Pubdate: Thu, 19 May 2005
Source: Sunstar Cagayan De Oro (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Sunstar Cagayan De Oro.
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2983
Author: Danilo V. Adorador III
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

ORO COPS, ANTI-DRUG AGENCY POINT FINGERS ON RAID

BOTH the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) and the regional
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 10 denied any involvement in
a bungled raid at a woman's home in Barangay Patag, this city last May
11.

"We have nothing to do with that, we don't know that," PDEA-10 deputy
director, Superintendent Nerio Bermudo told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro
Wednesday.

A woman earlier voiced her complaint regarding what she described as
the "forcible entry" of agents of the regional PDEA-10 office at her
home located in Tejero streets, Barangay Patag this city at 7:30 p.m.

The complainant identified as Maricel Cartajena said she was watching
TV along with her kids when armed men entered her home.

She said she was surprised and fearful when the armed men entered her
home. The armed men were said to be looking for a certain Allan whom
they believed to be her husband.

However, Cartajena said her husband isn't named Allan.

She said she learned that the men had a search warrant but added that
she didn't see any paper. Despite this Cartajena said she allowed the
armed men to look inside her home.

Four persons entered Cartajena's home while two other persons waited
outside.

Cartajena said she saw Kagawad Michael Alilim of Barangay Patag and a
female police officer reportedly assigned at the PNP-10 office.

It wasn't long before Cartajena's husband appeared and the armed men
saw him. She said the armed men apologized after seeing that he wasn't
the man they're looking for.

Later, Alilim clarified to dxCC-Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) that he
didn't know whether the PDEA-10 agents had entered Cartajena's home
because by the time he arrived there were police in the area and he
didn't see any person who had a search warrant.

However, Bermudo hinted that the butchered raid might have been
conducted by another police units.

"If ever there was such a raid, those involved were not our agents.
Basin ang (Maybe it's) COCPO?" said.

But city police director Honorio Cervantes also denied the city police
conducted the raid.

"It's not us. It's PDEA's area," Superintendent Cervantes told
Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Wednesday.

"I'm confident those were not my men," he added.

The woman is said to file charges against the PDEA 10 as a result of
this incident. 
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