A buy-bust operation carried out by the local unit of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) along M. Torralba St. , this city, Thursday, appeared to have been busted after a complaint was lodged against the raiding team leader. But the PDEA team leader identified as Intelligence Officer Yogi Felimon Ruiz denied any violation attending the buy-bust operation involving Rodirick Earl Jamisola alias Bodik. Lawyer Salvador Diputado appeared as counsel to complainant identified as Jorge Pinlac, a resident of M. Torralba St . The complaint was supported by affidavits of four witnesses who were present during the entrapment operations.
Citing violation of their human rights, Diputado accused the PDEA official of poking his gun to the complainants during the alleged buy-bust activity. The case was filed before the Commission on Human Rights office in this city last Friday against IO3 Ruiz. Pinlac's complaint was supported by the affidavits of his wife, Trinity Mae Pinlac, their sons Albert Morris, King Martin and the nanny Florencia Arayan. In their complaint, the Pinlacs narrated that in the evening of Thursday, IO3 Ruiz pointed his gun at them while asking for the whereabouts of “Bodik” said to be a drug personality supplying members of the dreaded Crips Gang.
The same complaint indicated that one of the complainants' sons was herded upstairs after confiscating his Nokia 7210 cell phone. The team leader then pointed his gun at complainants' other son Albert Morris who were then watching TV. Then the PDEA agent announced “way lihok, PDEA ni” (Don't move, this is PDEA). According to the legal counsel, the actuation of the PDEA man caused terrible fear and trauma to complainants' children and grandchildren, in-laws and visitors. The raid also caused untold shame because the respondent made it appear as if there was a buy-bust operation in their residence when there was none.
PDEA VERSION
But the PDEA has a different version of the buy-bust story. In a joint affidavit signed by Ruiz, IO1 Steven Valles and IO3 John Carlo Daquiado, they said they arrested Jamisola, 23 of M. Torralba St. for violations of Section 5 and Section 11 and Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drug Act. The same affidavit revealed that during the so-called pre-arrest briefing, Ruiz introduced to the rest of the buy bust team the confidential informant. Valles was designated as the poseur- buyer while Ruiz and Daquiado were assigned as the back-up arresting officers. According to the same sworn statement, the confidential informant was able to talk with the suspect within the gate of the Gallares Hospital along M.Torralba St. Then the two agreed how much shabu would Valles purchase.
When the transaction was consummated, the buyer handed down the marked money, a P500 bill in exchange for the packet of shabu. Then as agreed in the briefing, the two arresting officers came from behind, and arrested the suspect. They then introduced as PDEA operatives. But in the complaint filed by Diputado before the Commission on Human Rights office, the lawyer said Yogi was acting alone in the alleged buy-bust. In filing the case, the lawyer cited the monstrosity committed by the PDEA team leader to the complainants---entering residence without search warrant, causing terrible fear and trauma by pointing his gun without any legal basis and seizure of the Nokia phone.
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