Asia/Pacific News
Police Charged After Wrongful Arrests Over Bunkering
Twelve Philippine police officers have been charged with making illegal arrests in October in connection with alleged fuel pilferage, the Philippine Star reports.
Complaints filed against members of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) charged that the officers had arrested oil firm and shipping company employees, accusing them of "paihi," or stealing fuel, when they were simply bunkering a ship.
The companies, EON Petroleum Corp., Portavega Ship Management Inc., and Shogun Ships Co. Inc. (Shogun Ships), along with their employees, are seeking almost P10 million in damages against Superintendent Harry Domingo, the head of the police intelligence and operations unit, and 11 of his subordinates.
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on Oct. 10, when the M/T Melissa Rae arrived in Manila and a tanker truck from Philippine company Unioil began loading it with diesel.
The companies claim the police accused their employees of stealing fuel and arrested them without producing search or arrest warrants.
Shogun Ships said it lost P3.5 million ($79,000) for failing to deliver the fuel to a client.
According to Shogun Ships' website, the Melissa Rae is a coastwise fuel oil tanker.
