Ligad defends ACTF action vs erring carwash workers

The head of the City’s Anti-Crime Task Force (ACTF) and city information officer Richard Ligad said that the two car wash workers hurt and arrested by two of his personnel midnight of February 22, 2019 were troublesome persons.

In his appearance on Thursday during the committee hearing of the Committee on Legal Matters headed by City Councilor Nesario G. Awat, Ligad said that the person who work in a car wash in Del Pilar Street, Barangay Maligaya allegedly beaten by his men was involved in throwing stones to passersby and other disorderly behavior.

“Ayoko namang mag-low morale ang mga tao natin pero may suspension na tayong pinataw. One-month suspension without pay. Pero gusto nating sabihin na itong mga car wash boys ay hindi lang isang beses kundi maraming beses nang nasangkot sa mga kaguluhan at batuhan dyan sa lugar na yan. May ebidensya tayo galing mismo sa police blotter,” he said.

He also showed proof that the motorcycle used by the worker of the car wash was not registered with Land Transportation Office (LTO) and is suspected to have been carnapped from its owner.

It was Vice Mayor Luis Marcaida III who castigated the alleged irregularities of the ACTF members during his privillege speech at the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

“Kitang-kita po doon sa video na samot-saring suntok at sipa ang inabot. Nais nating malaman kung bakit umabot sa ganung pananakit na wala ng kalaban-laban ang biktima. Kung siya man ay nagmura dapat lang na syay dalhin sa presinto. Nakaupo na sya ay sinasaktan pa sya ay hindi magandang pangitain. Bakit ganito ang aksyon ng Anti-Crime Task Force?. Kung nagkakamali ang tao ay habulin ito at e-surrender sa PNP. Bakit overkill ang pagkuha sa tao?. Wala naman tayong search warrant o warrant of arrest,” Vice Mayor Marcaida said.

Ligad also showed a video which the two car wash workers rode the motorcycle speedily and shouted invectives that prompted the ACTF members to chase the two car wash workers. Ligad said that the duo went into hiding and the responding ACTF members hurt them.

While Ligad said that he does not tolerate irregularities of his men, he is open to any investigation that will be conducted.

Councilor Awat recommended for the conduct of an investigation by the City Legal Office as administrative sanctions to the ACTF members involve.

He further said that the two car wash workers can also pursue in filing complaint in the police and in court for any criminal liability of the erring ACTF members.