The Ombudsman for the Military has recommended the filing of a criminal complaint for arbitrary detention against the chief of the Bago City Police Women and Children Concerns Desk, for jailing two minors, almost two years ago.

Commission on Human Rights Investigator Ariel Marapo yesterday said the filing of criminal charges against SPO4 Isabelita Dioso, chief of the Bago PNP Women and Children Concerns Desk, was recommended by Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer Corazon Tadeo, and approved by Orlando Casimero, deputy Ombudsman for the Military.

Complainant Ofelia Salvador claimed that her son, Angelo, then 16 years old, and her 14-year-old niece, whose identity is being withheld by the DAILY STAR, were apprehended by Dioso on March 7, 2004, without presenting any warrant of arrest.

CHR investigations show that the two minors were observed in video footage to have entered the residence of Engr. Matt Gaudite in Bago City.

Dioso said Angelo and his cousin who is now 16 years old, took cash, jewelry and food from the residence of Gaudite. Aside from complaints of Gaudite, Angelo and his cousin were also tagged as suspects in the series of theft and robbery cases in Bago.

Marapo said the detention of Angelo and his cousin was based on the complaint of Gaudite.

Investigations of the CHR also showed that two arrested persons were allegedly denied and not allowed to buy food, and also were not informed of their rights by Dioso.

Dioso, who vehemently denied denying the two suspects food while detained, described the filing of charges against her as harassment.

Angelo and his cousin were arrested on March 7, a Sunday, police records show.

The counting of hours in detention started March 8 and they were both released the next day, so there was no arbitrary detention, Dioso claimed.

Since they were apprehended for robbery, supposedly they should be jailed for 18 hours but we only detained them for 12 hours, Dioso said.

She also said that even the staff of the Department of Social Welfare and Development of Bago City and even her colleagues in the police service, can attest to the fact that she even provides money for transportation and food to abused minors and women.

Dioso added that Angelo has two pending arrest warrants for theft, as a result of criminal complaints filed against him by Globe Telecom and the city government of Bago.

She added that Angelo was brought to Manila by his mother to evade arrest.*GPB

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