Estancia, Batad cops, NBI men in hot water for assaulting Bantay Dagat chief
VILLA: They harassed me.
Policemen from the towns of Estancia and Batad in Northern Iloilo as well as several members of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) may face criminal and administrative charges from the provincial government of Iloilo for forcibly taking two fishing vessels recently impounded for illegal fishing.
Reynaldo Villa, Bantay Dagat commander of Brgy. Binun-an, Batad, Iloilo recently reported to Governor Niel Tupas, Sr. that he was assaulted by policemen belonging to Estancia and Batad PNP along with several NBI personnel Tuesday evening.
The identities of said law enforcers are still being gathered for the possible filing of the case.
Villa claimed that policemen from Estancia and Batad and several NBI men stormed their village around 10 p.m. Tuesday, November 7, ordering him to release fishing boats Fanny Cresa and Fanny Berel impounded by the Bantay Dagat about a month ago after having been caught for illegal fishing off the waters of Concepcion.
The two fishing vessels are owned by a certain Connie Medelo who is from Roxas City. Said fishing boats are still in the custody of Bantay Dagat as two more cases are pending in court.
Villa said, he refused to follow the group's order seeing no valid release papers.
The group showed Villa the so-called court order signed by Judge Eugenio Cabardo of the San Dionisio Regional Trial Court but the latter requested that he would ask permission first from Governor Tupas.
As the exchange of words ensued Villa claimed that a certain PO3 Sorongon of Batad PNP pointed a gun at him and his son threatening to kill him if he continues to resist.
The group indeed succeeded in taking away the two fishing boats.
Villa said the group were under the influence of liquor when they stormed their place.
Villa could not identify the names of PNP and NBI members except Sorongon and the chief of police of Batad, but he alleged that there were six policemen from Batad, six from Estancia and around 12 NBI personnel.
He later learned that the group had a drinking spree at the house of Mayor Pedro Alarcon before conducting the "operation."
The News Today, however, failed to confirm such information with Mayor Alarcon.
Governor Niel Tupas, Sr. immediately ordered Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) director Senior Supt. Joel Napoleon Coronel to investigate the PNP personnel involved. He has also coordinated with the NBI regional director for the identities of the NBI men.
Tupas said what happened was an insult to his administration's campaign against illegal fishing.
"What they did is illegal, they could have waited for the next day to execute their so-called court order. Why do it late at night?," Tupas angrily said.
He also directed Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Salvador Cabaluna III to study the appropriate cases that could be filed against the group who assaulted Villa.
Villa lamented that it happened, saying he is saddened that the law enforcers, who are supposed to be their partners in fighting illegal fishing, were the ones that could have killed him.