The Commission on Human Rights in Negros Oriental has recommended the filing of administrative charges against a policeman assigned in Bayawan City, for possible human rights violations against a farmer.
Dr. Jess Cañete, special investigator of the CHR-Negros Oriental, on Tuesday disclosed he has recommended the filing of charges against PO1 John Karl Niaga after the policeman had an unfriendly encounter with Roger Calumba, a resident of Barangay Bugay, Bayawan City, last March.
Cañete disclosed that his investigation findings show probable unlawful arrest, illegal search, coercion and grave threats, among others, that PO1 Niaga and his companions probably committed when they “arrested” Roger Calumba last March 21.
In that incident, Niaga and some police auxiliary members came to Calumba’s house around 1 a.m. and entered his house without a warrant, conducted a search and asked him regarding the presence of armed men in the neighborhood.
On the ground that an illegal firearm was found in his house, Niaga and his group then “arrested” and took Calumba to the barangay hall for booking.
While on the way to the barangay hall, Calumba further alleged that Niaga hit him on his face with the muzzle of the policeman’s rifle and he also heard some firearms being cocked.
Calumba said he panicked and fled, running towards a river bank as Niaga and his companions pursued him but he managed to escape.
The following day, Calumba went to the police station in Bayawan City to have the incident recorded in the police blotter.
Cañete noted that when Calumba had voluntarily appeared at the Bayawan police station, there was no formal report of the incident involving him, Niaga and the police auxiliary members the day before.
The charges include a grave misconduct case for probable violation of domicile and unlawful arrest; oppression for probable light threats; and dishonesty for probable misrepresentation of himself and those of his companions as Bais City policemen.
Also, Cañete recommends that Niaga be subjected to administrative investigation by the Investigation Section of the Negros Oriental PNP provincial office and for replacing him as “handler” of police auxiliaries for his “incapacity” to perform the functions for such position. (PNA)
