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Cagayan PNP chief in hot water

LASAM, Cagayan (July 14) — The chief of police (COP) here is in hot water as he ignored a court order to release two residents they arbitrarily arrested on June 20 at the publc market here and arbitrarily detained since. The detainees were identified as Vicente Bilag, 39, a farmer, and Danny Boy Bulusan, 29, a carpenter respectively from Gattaran and Sto. Nino towns.

COP Hector Balinuyus is now facing contempt of court for disregarding the release order issued on June 30 by Judge Orlando Beltran of the local court here. It will be heard on July 25 at the sala of Judge Beltran. Contempt of court is imposed when a court order is being disobeyed.

Aside from the contempt of court, counsels of the detainees Carmelo Lasam, Pastor Ligos and Jesus Catral are preparing administrative, civil and criminal cases against Balinuyus which they are to file today.

In a Nordis interview with Police Provincial Director Supt. James Milan, he allegedly advised Balinuyus to follow the court order and the effects of his acts if he failed to follow such.

Relatives and supporters of the detainees claimed however that Milan is just washing his hands on Balinuyus’es felonious act.

Karapatan – Cagayan Valley claimed that on July 3, “Balinuyus was presented of the release order but would not give in for reasons he seemingly could not understand.”

Balinuyus was allegedly following orders from his higher office and from four military personnel stationed at the 2nd floor of the PNP-Lasam building, Karapatan-CV claimed in a statement.

Earlier on June 30, Balinuyus failed to justify the arrest and detention of the two detainees. Due to his failure, Lasam moved for the release of the two detainees based on the habeas corpus petition the detainees’ families filed earlier.

In a fact sheet sent by Karapatan - CV to the media, Bilag and Bulusan were arrested on June 20 merely due to their “suspicious looks.” Brought to the PNP-Lasam headquarters, they were tortured and forced into admitting they are members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the absence of a counsel.

The duo went through various mental and psychological tortures, which included interrogation of Bilag with a .45 caliber poked at him and a baseball bat nearly hit him. Bulusan was also interrogated while clad only with an underwear.

Since their detention, they had been transferred from one place to another for the purpose of extracting information from them, Nordis learned from their relatives.

They were allegedly charged of robbery, robbery in band and carnapping but these are all concocted, claimed their families.

Presently, a vigil is being launched by their families and supporters for their immediate release. # Art L. Allad-iw for NORDIS

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