Narcs violate traffic rule, then beat up jeepney driver

FOUR agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) are in hot water for allegedly beating up at gunpoint a public jeepney driver over a traffic accident at Tiano Bros. and Chaves streets here at around 6:30 am yesterday.

The narcotics agents figured in the accident because they counterflowed on a one-way street, and then blamed the jeepney driver for it, police said.

Chief Insp. Victor Cacdac, chief of the Divisoria police, identified only two of the agents as PDEA intelligence officer Jestoni Tubongbanua,  25, of Valencia City, and PDEA senior officer Neil Pabilona, 41, of Ilaya, Carmen here.

Police disarmed Tubongbanua and Pabilona, and detained them at the police station in Divisoria while charges were being prepared against them.

Cacdac said he has asked PDEA regional director Wilkins Villanueva to present the other two suspects who took part in the alleged mauling of jeepney driver Michael Tee of Camaman-an.

Cacdac said the PDEA agents would need to show proof that they were on a mission at the time they were caught with guns.

“If they don’t have, then they will have to answer in court,” he said, pointing out that there is an elections gun ban that applies even to PDEA agents.

SPO2 Laureto Castillo said Tubongbanua and Pabilona were on a motorcycle with license plates LC-10134 when they were accidentally hit by the jeepney driven by Tee.

Castillo said the PDEA agents were counterflowing on a one-way street in violation of a rule.

Tubongbanua, who drove the motorcycle, was under the influence of liquor at that time, said SPO4 Nestor Borjal.

Tee, for his part, said he would press charges of grave threats and physical injuries against Tubongbanua, Pabilona, and their two companions.

“Pagna-og nako sa jeep,  gikulata ko nila. Giti-onan pako og pusil   sa ilang duha ka kauban nga nagsakay sa la-ing motor. Sa pagbakod anang duha nga akong nabanga-an, mitabang sila ug kulata nako. Upat sila tanan nagkulata sa ako,” Tee said.

Tee’s wife Marife said a PDEA agent asked them to negotiate for an amicable settlement.

“Gi-ingnan ko adtong usa ka agent sa PDEA nga kon mag-file pa kuno kami og kaso, dako ang gasto ug taas ang proseso  pero kon dili na kami mo-file og kaso, ila kunong ihatag ang among i-demand,” said Tee.