Taguig City police chief Col. Robert Baesa relieved police officers involved in a warrantless search and seizure operation in a city resident's house. 

Baesa announced his decision after complainants Michael Catanghal and Christina Alcober went to the “Wanted sa Radyo” program of Senator Raffy Tulfo to air their grievance about what happened last Aug. 30. 

Senator Raffy Tulfo (right) with complainants Michael Catanghal and Christina Alcober in his radio program "Wanted sa Radyo" (Screenshot from "Wanted sa Radyo" video on YouTube)  

The police officers going to a house in Taguig on Aug. 30 (Screenshot from "Wanted sa Radyo" video on YouTube)  

"When I learned about the incident, I immediately called the attention of Sub-Station 8 Commander to explain the issue and directed the relief of police personnel involved in the incident,” said Baesa. 

In her narration, Alcober tearfully said there were six men involved. 

“May hinahanap daw po silang tao na na ‘brother’ daw po. Itinuro daw po na dun po nakatira sa bahay po namin (They were looking for a person called ‘brother.’ It was pinpointed that the person was living in our house),” said Alcober. 

She said the men entered the house without a search warrant and asked for the name of her husband. She showed them her husband’s ID and the men took a picture of it. 

When she tried to take back the ID, she was told to ask her husband if he knew a certain Alvin, who she claimed they did not know. 

After getting her ID, one of the men followed her and told her to ask her husband to come down from the house. 

“Pinipilit nya na pong hilahin palabas ng pinto yung asawa ko. Pinipilit po nila isama, sir (He was trying to pull my husband out of the door. They were trying to take him),” she said. 

As a scuffle ensued, the men told her husband of being a “tulak” (drug pusher).” 

They shouted to seek help and the men suddenly disappeared except for one, who was joined by a barangay kagawad. 

During the program, Tulfo identified the two police officers involved in the incident as Sgt. Vincent Macabasag and Cpl. Marvin Blastique, who both belong to the Taguig police Substation 8. 

In a statement, the Taguig police vowed “to implement measures to ensure no bias treatment implemented.”

“The Investigation pertaining this matter is being handled by NCRPO thru Regional Investigation Detection and Management Division (RIDMD) that immediately took an action regarding the incident which transpired last August 30, 2023 and was aired in ‘Wanted sa Radyo Program,’ a live segment by Hon. Senator Raffy Tulfo,” they added. 

The Taguig police said, “As members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), one of our primary mandates is to ensure public safety. As police personnel and agents of law, we have high regard with people’s rights against unreasonable search and seizure. This is a constitutionally guaranteed right which we ought to respect and uphold.”

"We, the Taguig City Police Station under my leadership, assure the public that we will help, assist, and cooperate, in every way feasible and lawful, for the resolution of issues we have at hand,” they said.