LUCENA CITY, Quezon – Eight intelligence operatives of the Lucena City Police Station were arrested for allegedly entering, pointing guns, and harassing a woman in Purok Masagana, Barangay Ransohan, this city, before dawn on Friday, May 24.
The victim, Renelyn Rianzales, 52, a candidate in the 2023 barangay elections, has filed a case of violation of domicile, grave threats, and unjust vexation against Police Capt. Aaron Herrera, Master Sgt. Richie Yuayan, Staff Sgt. Henry Mago, Staff Sgt. Junar Cabalsa, and Corporals Rainier Zaballa, Allan Abdon, Wilson Bantilan, and Rene John Bartolata.
In her complaint, a copy of which was obtained by the Manila Bulletin, Rianzales said she was awakened by a loud banging on her door at around 3:15 a.m.
Unidentified men wearing dark clothes and face masks with eyes just visible were kicking at her door until it fell.
They barged into her unlocked bedroom and pointed guns at her, shouting "Pulis! Pulis! Dapa! Kamay sa likod! Nasaan si Jonathan?" (Police! Hands on your back! Where is Jonathan?), referring to Rianzales' live-in partner.
Rianzales was scared and replied, "Wala, nasa trabaho" (He’s not here, he is at work) while guns were pointed at her.
They went around the house looking for Jonathan. They failed to find him and returned to her and asked, with flashlights shining on her face that almost blinded her, "Saan nagtatrabaho?" (Where is he working?)
She replied, "Sa Laguna" (in Laguna), and the men left.
Rianzales said she counted around five men inside and later on found out that three more were posted outside.
She and her two grandchildren went to her mother's house and sought help from Armando Paderon, a fellow barangay elections candidate, who accompanied her to the police to report the incident.
Rianzales was informed that a police drug operation was scheduled in the barangay by intelligence personnel on May 24 while she was giving a statement to the police.
She recognized the police personnel by their body build and other body marks.
Upon learning of the policemen's identities, Rianzales filed complaints against them before the city prosecutor’s office.
Rianzales said she suffered trauma and immense fear for the safety of her two grandchildren.
Days earlier, she testified before a hearing conducted by the House Committee on Public Safety and Order chaired by Rep. Dan Fernandez following a resolution filed by Quezon Rep. David Suarez about unreported violence committed by armed men during the barangay elections in Lucena City.
Rianzales thought that the incident is connected with her testimony in the hearing.
The suspects are detained at the Lucena police station and face cases for violation of domicile, grave threats, and unjust vexation.
Lucena police chief Police Lt. Col. Reynaldo Reyes was relieved the same day and replaced by Police Lt. Col. William Angway as officer-in-charge.