DIOS-TI-AGNGINA, GENERAL BARTOLOME

The Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol (top photo) and part of the Aurora Park, both in Laoag City

We have given up the case against some members of the Laoag Police Station who trespassed on a house to arrest an alleged drug pusher, a certain Victor Padayao, 44,  last March 21. Our son, owner of the house, and his wife failed to execute an affidavit regarding the case. Their sons and daughter, aged 2-15, also did not submit an affidavit within the time period the police (Ilocos Norte PNP provincial investigation assistance service) set for them. We, too were unable to execute an affidavit based on our letter to Gen. Nicanor Bartolome. We thought the case would be dismissed. But the PNP summary hearing officer saw a probable cause. No doubt about it: they read our letter to the good general and the report of the police team regarding the raid. In our letter to Gen. Bartolome, we detailed the facts about a group of Laoag cops entering, without authority or warrant from the courts, the house of my son and his wife--they were not present in the house when the lawmen came, kicking doors with drawn guns. They did not even coordinate with barangay officials. Only young kids were inside the house at that time: my grandchildren and their friends and cousins.  One of the cops, refused to take the statement of Juvy, my son Eugene's wife, who who went to the police station to put on record the unauthorized "raid". Now the cops are being investigated by the the Regional Investigation and Assistance Service in San Fernando City, La Union. The first hearing will be made on August 31 in Camp Florendo. Thanks, also, to the very young Atty Benilda Indasen, the summary hearing officer.