Solon scores “illegal arrest” of Muslims in Manila

Deputy Speaker and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman condemned the warrantless arrest of two Muslims in Manila and the illegal search of their houses during the Independence Day celebration.

Hataman questioned the handling of the operation against Saadudin Alawiya and Abdullah Maute who were tagged as drug suspects by the Manila Police District.

 

“I am not passing judgment on the guilt or innocence of everyone involved, but I am expressing strong feelings against the way law enforcers handled the situation. Parang madaming shortcut ang ginawa (It seems shortcuts were made). It would seem that they did not do their jobs well, and by failing on their responsibilities, they deprived people of their rights to due process. At yan ay nakakatakot (and that is scary),” said Hataman.

Anti-drugs agents of the MPD allegedly stormed the house of the suspects without identifying themselves; conducted a search of the vicinity without any search warrant; and arrested the two without an arrest warrant.

The police also failed to show any identification and did not coordinate with barangay officials.

Relatives of the suspects posted recordings of the four-hour ordeal in social media. They claimed that the two were legitimate jewelry traders and not drug peddlers.

Hataman called on the leadership of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to probe the incident, saying that there is mounting evidence to suggest that law enforcers in this case went beyond their authority and abused their powers.

“Ang sabi, buy-bust operation dapat ito. Ang sabi, dapat sa Luneta nangyari, pero hindi nagpakita. Given na totoo itong claim ng pulis, may kapangyarihan na ba sila na puntahan ang mga Muslim na ito sa bahay at halughugin ang kagamitan at arestuhin sila kahit walang warrant?” Hataman asked.

(Police said it was supposed to be a buy-bust operation. They said they were to meet in Luneta, but the suspects failed to show up. Given that this claim of the police is true, do they have power to go to the house of the Muslims and ransack their property and arrest them without warrants?)

Hataman also expressed concern that more similar cases will occur once the Anti-Terrorism bill becomes a law.

“I hope that this will not be commonplace if the Anti-Terrorism Bill is signed into law. This is another reason to oppose such measures. If in drug cases, law enforcement can disregard basic rights of citizens, what more under this measure where they will be given more powers and more discretion?”