Suspended Laguna mayor eyes raps vs cops

A city mayor in Laguna province currently serving the final days of a suspension order from the Interior department is studying charges against policemen who took part in raid on his house last week. Mayor Jose "Joey" Catindig Jr of Sta. Rosa City said he is now discussing legal options with his lawyers against the police team that "served" a search warrant for firearms. "There's politics involved in that raid. I'm suspicious about the timing because it took place when I am about to re-assume my post," Catindig said in Filipino during an interview on dzRH radio Monday. The suspension stemmed from an administrative case involving the transfer of two city officials. A team of policemen, reportedly from the Philippine National Police regional special operations group (PNP-RSOG), raided Catindig's house last week. The police team claimed Catindig was keeping high-powered firearms in his house, but failed to find the items during the "search." "I obtained a resolution from the Court of Appeals allowing me to return to my post on February 11," Catindig said. The mayor now also wants to find out the names of the more senior government officials who ordered the police raid. "I don't own and I don't keep the high-powered firearms as claimed by the police. As to the claim that I keep the firearms and documents in an 80-ton, 40-foot container van, how can I bring it home? My house is small and I'm used to living an ordinary life," he said. He added he is not discounting the possibility of more incidents of "harassment," but said he is preparing legal action against the policemen in the raid. "I don't want to give details of the legal action for now. All I ask now is that I not be subjected to more harassment. If my opponents want to take my post, they should wait till May," he said. - GMANews.TV