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[av_heading heading=’ Lawyer questions arrest, house raid’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY RUBY SILUBRICO
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ILOILO City – Odicta family lawyer Marbhen Lumbo was released hours after his arrest at his clients’ residence yesterday in Barangay Malipayon, City Proper.
He vowed to question his arrest and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) raid, citing what he said were irregularities.
The leadership of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Western Visayas region, on the other hand, expressed alarm over “the increasing duress employed by law enforcement agents against the rule of law” as exemplified by the arrest of Lumbo.
If PDEA Region 6 deputy director Levi Ortiz were to be believed, Lumbo tried to stop the operatives from seizing items from the house.
Lumbo, however, denied obstructing the raid. He said he was merely questioning the operating unit why they were seizing money, the handheld radio, bank checks and bankbooks which were not listed in the search warrant.
“Their search warrant included drugs and firearms, nga-a hasta iban nga wala nabutang sa search warrant ginpangdala nila? Amo lang na gina-question ko sa ila but they arrested and handcuffed me. I did not obstruct their search operation,” said Lumbo.
Ortiz said the PDEA agents took the money because they believed these were proceeds from the illegal drug trade.
“We understand that he has to defend his clients. But he impeded the flow of our operation and he questioned our recovered items. If he had doubts, he should go to court,” said Ortiz.
Lumbo, however, said he and the Odicta family cooperated with PDEA and even gave the house keys to the agents.
“I am just questioning their confiscation of items not listed in the search warrant. Imagine they were confiscating money, jewelry, etc. This arrest is illegal. I will fight this out,” Lumbo said.
‘INCREASING DURESS’
IBP Western Visayas region expressed alarm over “the increasing duress employed by law enforcement agents against the rule of law.”
Lumbo is a member of IBP Iloilo.
“It is a lawyer’s sworn duty, as an officer of the Court, to employ all available legal remedies to protect the interests of his client regardless of his personal opinion as to the latter’s guilt or innocence,” stressed Atty. Abdiel Dan Elijah Fajardo, governor of IBP Western Visayas.
He said a lawyer acting within the bounds of the law is “an essential cog in the administration of justice” and must be allowed to exercise his profession free from fear of physical harm or restraint upon his person.
“An empowering sense of personal security among lawyers is a core component of the rule of law. If at all, Atty. Lumbo must be lauded for insisting, in the face of overwhelming force, that Constitutional safeguards be strictly observed in the service of a search warrant against his client,” stressed Fajardo./PN
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