Columnist in mistaken identity incident eyes charges vs. police

Photo by Anna Felicia Bajo

The camp of Davao-based columnist Margarita Valle is considering filing criminal and administrative charges against the policemen who mistakenly arrested her over the weekend at an airport in Misamis Oriental.

This was bared by Attorney Kathy Panguban, legal counsel of 61-year-old Valle, in a forum in Quezon City on Wednesday.

"As one of her counsels, we are looking at the possibility of filing criminal and administrative charges against the members of the PNP-CIDG who effected her arrest," Panguban said.

"As people's lawyer, we will not take this another brazen attack and disregard of human rights lightly," she added.

Valle was arrested Sunday by members of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) at Laguindingan Airport by virtue of standing warrants for multiple murder with quadruple frustrated murder and damage to government property issued by a Misamis Occidental Regional Trial Court in December 2011.

Another arrest warrant for arson, released by a court in Pagadian City in September 2006, was also served against Valle.

However, Valle was later released after police had found out that it was a case of mistaken identity. She apparently mistaken for one Elsa Renton, who also goes by the aliases Tina Maglaya and Fidelina Margarita Valle.

Sought for comment, PNP spokesman Police Colonel Bernard Banac said the PNP reiterated that an internal investigation on the incident is ongoing.

"The mistaken arrest of Ms. Margarita Valle is indeed too regrettable," Banac told GMA News Online.

"We assure the public that a full-dress investigation is now in progress to determine culpability for the apparent lapses and oversight to prevent similar incidents in future police operations."

Police Colonel Tom Tuzon, CIDG Regional Field Unit 9 chief, already apologized to Valle following the mistaken arrest.

PNP chief Police General Oscar Albayalde has promised to assist Valle if she decides to file a complaint against authorities who had arrested her. —KBK, GMA News