ILOILO City – Three civilians allegedly harassed during a July 1 raid conducted by personnel of the Philippine National Police-Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) and the Special Action Force (SAF) at Iloilo City Police Station 4 (Molo Police Station) are preparing to file criminal charges against the operating team, a Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) official confirmed.
The impending complaints, which include grave coercion, grave threats, and violation of domicile, mark a major legal escalation in the police operation that has already triggered separate investigations by PRO-6 and the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM).
Police Colonel Kim Legada, chief of the PRO-6’s Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division (RIDMD), confirmed that the complainants are now preparing to seek legal action.
The complainants include a barangay captain, the owner of a nearby stall allegedly entered by the operatives during the raid, and a journalist who was at the Molo Police Station at the time of the IMEG raid.
Legada said pursuing criminal complaints is among the legal remedies available to civilians who believe their rights were violated during the operation.
“They have the right to seek legal remedies if they believe their rights were violated. The appropriate complaints will be filed before the proper prosecutorial office for evaluation,” he said.
Apart from the criminal complaints, PRO-6 will also submit documentary evidence and other records to NAPOLCOM Region 6 as part of the latter’s motu proprio administrative investigation into the conduct of the raid.
“We will provide all available documents and evidence to NAPOLCOM to assist in its independent investigation. We will fully cooperate so the facts surrounding the operation can be established,” Legada said.
The July 1 operation drew widespread public attention after allegations surfaced that some civilians were threatened and that law enforcers entered private premises while carrying out an operation against a dismissed police officer.
Legada said both the criminal and administrative proceedings will be allowed to run their course to ensure accountability, fairness, and due process for all parties involved./PN
