Police Chief Confirms Possible Compensation for Wrongful Arrest
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III confirmed that an 81-year-old man, wrongly jailed after being misidentified as a New People’s Army (NPA) leader, may pursue compensation for his ordeal.
This statement followed the Court of Appeals’ (CA) directive to release construction worker Prudencio Calubid Jr. from Manila City Jail. The CA cited an “evident lack of due diligence” by the police officers responsible for his arrest.
“That’s the beauty of the law. That went through a trial… Unfortunately, there was a mistake,” Torre said during a press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday. “But that person can invoke compensation. We have a law that compensates people wrongfully convicted. We have that. They can invoke that and ask for compensation for what they went through.”
Legal Framework for Compensation
The law referenced by Torre, Republic Act 7309, established a Board of Claims under the Department of Justice. It provides a mechanism for victims of unjust imprisonment or detention to claim reparations.
CA Orders Release for Man Wrongly Jailed as NPA Leader
In a decision dated June 27, the Court of Appeals’ 16th Division granted the writ of habeas corpus filed by Calubid’s daughter. The court found that the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) agents mistakenly identified Calubid as a wanted insurgent due to a mix-up involving the name “Prudencio Calubid” without the “Junior” suffix.
Details of the Arrest and Misidentification
Calubid was arrested in Olongapo City in December 2024. Authorities believed he was a communist insurgent with a P7.8-million bounty on his head. However, the man in custody was not the intended target.
At the time of the arrest, Gen. Torre was serving as the CIDG director. Local sources noted the police’s failure to verify the suspect’s identity thoroughly, leading to Calubid’s wrongful detention.
Moving Forward: Seeking Justice and Compensation
The case highlights the importance of diligence in law enforcement and the legal remedies available to victims of wrongful imprisonment. Calubid now has the option to file for compensation under existing laws, which aim to address the harm caused by such errors.
For more news and updates on wrongful imprisonment, visit Filipinokami.com.