Gutoc reminds cops: Don’t use drug war to frame people
Credit to Author: jespinosa| Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2019 03:23:49 +0000
MANILA, Philippines — Marawi civic leader and senatorial candidate Samira Gutoc has reminded police officers not to use the war against illegal drugs to frame people they want arrested.
“I repeat my reminder to all the unscrupulous policemen, I demand that you stop using the drug war to frame up others,” Gutoc said in a statement on Thursday.
“Stop using it as a weapon to take advantage or silence anyone,” she added.
Gutoc’s statements came after the National Council on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) reported that the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Tuguegarao, Cagayan has dismissed drug-related charges against three imams, identified as Habib Sirad Ditingcopen, Noraldin Bantuas Lucman, and Mossanip Madaya.
“I applaud this decision, I am thankful that the prosecutor saw the truth and ruled that there was lack of probable cause […] This proves that justice is still possible through legal and peaceful means,” Gutoc noted.
“We thank the police for their swift action in this case, and we commend the efforts to clear the names of the three religious leaders,” she added.
In a previous report, the NCMF claimed that arresting officers falsified evidence by forcing the imams to drink water laced with methamphetamine. Gutoc also called on President Rodrigo Duterte to facilitate the release the Muslim leaders. /je
READ: Gutoc asks Duterte to look into arrest of 3 imams in alleged drug bust
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