MANILA – Sen. Panfilo Lacson urged the public to “see the side” of the Philippine National Police with regard to the arrest of three lawyers during a recent search of a high-end bar in Makati City.
“Let us not be too hasty or harsh in condemning the National Capital Region Police Office without getting their side of the story. There is such a thing as presumption of regularity,” said Lacson, a former PNP chief.
Videos of the search showed that the NCRPO officers asked the lawyers who they were representing and arrested them after they could not give clear answers, Lacson said.
Videos also showed an officer explaining to the lawyers that entering the scene and taking videos without prior authorization may constitute obstruction of justice, he added.
Citing an NCRPO team report, Lacson said the lawyers’ actions inside the premises may have contaminated the evidence.
“The PNP leadership has shown it is sincere in cleansing its ranks of rogue members and deserves at least a chance to have its side on the issue heard,” the senator said Wednesday.
The Makati City police charged and detained lawyers Lenie Rocel Rocha, Jan Vincent Soliven and Romulo Bernard Alarkon for allegedly interfering in their search of Times Bar on Makati Avenue.
Police found ecstasy tablets, cocaine and drug paraphernalia during the search./PN
