The police arrested 78-year-old man who allegedly caused a disturbance and made a grave threat at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City, for a separate case for four counts of alleged libel.
Alias “John”, 78, married, and a resident of Barangay 1, Bacolod City, was apprehended at the Hall of Justice at Cottage Road, Barangay 9, Bacolod City at 10 a.m . on Thursday, Sept. 10, by police and intelligence personnel, a Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) report said.
The arrest was conducted by virtue of a Warrant of Arrest for four counts of libel under Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code, issued by the Regional Trial Court, National Capital Region, Branch 280, Mandaluyong City, with a fixed bail of ₱40,000, the reported said.
The arrest came one day after the September 9, incident at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol, where Sy reportedly appeared at the Provincial Administrator’s Office at about 11:30 a.m. and demanded the withdrawal of a document he had previously submitted. He also reportedly looked for Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, who was not present at the time.
According to a police report, Sy allegedly threatened to shoot the provincial administrator before immediately leaving the area. The incident was subsequently reported to police at about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Following the incident, police authorities promptly undertook appropriate security and investigative measures. The alleged grave threat remains under investigation to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident and whether additional charges may be warranted.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on Thursday said the provincial government right now has not considered filing grave threats charges against alias John.
“I think what is important is the safety of every employee in the Capitol. We have to come up with protocols to prevent such incident from happening again”, he said.
That was just a threat but we do not want tragic incidents to happen at the Capitol so security protocols will be strengthened, Lacson said.
Lacson said he understands that alias “John” was offering the Capitol certain water rights that is totally different from the Capitol’s proposed bulk water project.
Police Regional Office Negros Island Region Regional Director, PGen. BGen Rudecindo Reales, said that the police organization will continue to act swiftly on threats to public safety while strictly observing the rule of law and due process.
“We will respond promptly and appropriately to threats against public officials and government institutions. At the same time, we will ensure that every police action remains firmly anchored on the law and that due process is observed,” Reales said.
The arrested person is presently under police custody for proper documentation and disposition. The appropriate legal proceedings will thereafter take their course, the PRO NI report said.
He was arrested by the Regional Intelligence Division of PRO NIR (lead unit), in coordination with the Police Station 2 of the Bacolod City Police Office, BCPO Tracker Team, and Tracker Team of the 601st Maneuver Company, and Regional Mobile Force Battalion NIR .*
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