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Broadcaster charges Abra police of harassment

BANGUED, Abra (May 31) — An Abra-based broadcaster of the Catholic Media Network (CMN) lodged an administrative complaint of harassment by policemen at the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) internal affairs service here.

Richard Tuzon, 34, a broadcaster for 15 years with the CMN- run DZPA in Bangued town, swore before Abra Provincial Prosecutor Nestor Tolentino two weeks ago, he was “accosted” by two Bangued town policemen who questioned him if he had a gun tucked in his waist.

In his complaint subscribed by Prosecutor Tolentino on Tuesday on May 24, Tuzon claimed that on May 19 at around 9:45 in the morning, he “was surprised and shocked to see two policemen namely Joel Semanero and Luis Gonzales barging in our offices looking for me.”

Tuzon, who is also the public information officer of the Abra Electric Cooperative (ABRECO) recounted to Prosecutor Tolentino “That I was so shocked, frightened and horrified of their gesture, demeanor and actuation having been in full battle gear and armed with long rifles, I lifted my shirt and moved around to show that I have no gun tucked on my waist.”

After that incident, Tuzon went to Supt. Ronald Olarte, chief of the Bangued Police Station to complain what his men did. The desk officer at the Bangued police station informed Tuzon that the policemen were verifying a tip from an unidentified caller on their hotline that he was carrying a gun.

Olarte reiterated that Tuzon was not harassed. He was not frisked, he claimed. “Siya ang Nagtaas ng damit niya. Walang kasalanan ang mga pulis natin,” the police official insisted.

Tuzon however stated that he felt harassed with the police action and claimed that prior to this incident, he had been receiving death threats. Tuzon had been hitting the Abra police over his radio program at DZPA on the issue of missing seized Narra flitches in Tayum town, also in Abra. He also said he had been raising issues against alleged “improper checkpoints” in Bangued town where there are no notices of checkpoints visible to the public. The broadcaster also remembered questioning the use of a municipal utility vehicle to transport freshly cut lumber.

Tuzon likewise acknowledged being critical about alleged “bad eggs” in the police assigned to Abra from other Cordillera provinces after all the 527 Abra policemen were relieved by the Interior and Local government department last month.

The broadcaster said the incident has caused him anxiety, alarm and embarrassment even among his family members.”Natatakot na ako lalo ngayong nag-file ako,” claimed Tuzon.

“Death threats”

Tuzon said he is bothered because acting on an unidentified informant, the police immediately went to him. He insisted he was frisked.

He claimed that he received death threats via SMS messages such as “bilang na ang araw mo”; “humanda ka di mo alam binabangga mo”; and “tumba ka kapag di ka tumigil”. He decided to change his cellular phone number.

Tuzon questions why the police act on unverified information. “In my almost 15 years as a broadcaster/ commentator, nasubukan ko na halos lahat ng klase ng harassment by politicians and prominent people. Ngayon ko lang naranasan na i-harass ng police.” He claimed policemen treated him like a dangerous person.

He further lamented that “if this alarming incident is permitted, then these police officers, under the guise of false information could just enter any premises and harass any individual of their own choosing and desire.”

Tuzon has included in his administrative complaint Supt. Olarte, a certain Inspector Sierra aside from Semanero and Gonzales for grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

A copy has been received by the respondents including a joint affidavit of witnesses who, according to Tuzon actually saw the incident inside the ABRECO office in Bangued.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Cordillera has also taken cognizance of the complaint by Tuzon and is conducting a separate verification and investigation based on a mandate given by PNP chief Arturo Lomibao and the Task Force Newsmen of the PNP. # Artemio A. Dumlao for NORDIS

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