MEMORANDUM

FOR : Atty. LEORAE D. VALMONTE

Officer-In-Charge

THRU : ELMER L. MANIEGO

Chief, Investigation Division

FROM : CLAIRE C. BACANI

Special Investigator II

ABYGAIL D.C. PARAS

Special Investigator I

SUBJECT : CHR-III-2020 0104

Alleged Illegal Arrest and Detention of
Maribel Punto

DATE : May 29, 2020

QUICK RESPONSE REPORT

I. AUTHORITY:

Pursuant to pertinent provisions of Section 18, Article 13 of the Constitution, and Section
3 of Executive Order No. 163 by the President of the Republic of the Philippines, and Mission
Order No. INV-II-20-05-0064.

II. ALLEGATIONS:

This is a complaint received by this office through the Citizen’s Help and Action Desk
(CHAD) with control number CHR-VM-26E20-609. The complainant, Ms. Rona Punto,
requested an investigation regarding the alleged illegal arrest and detention of her mother in
Marilao, Bulacan.

III. ISSUE:

Were there illegal arrests and detentions committed against the victim by the Marilao
PNP?

IV. GATHERED FACTS:

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Barangay Lloma De Gato, Marilao, Bulacan
The undersigned were able to interview the mother of the complainant, Ms. Maribel
Punto, in Marilao Police Station, where she is currently detained. She affirmed that on May 22,
2020, at about 4:00 in the afternoon, while she and her daughter were drinking coffee, a car
stopped in front of their house, and three (3) police personnel dressed in civilian clothes came
out of the vehicle. One (1) of them went inside their house in search of something.
Curious as to why the police officer entered their house, Maribel asked what he wanted.
The police officer then answered that he was waiting for someone and told her that they were
"under surveillance". Maribel then heard the police officer call on his cellphone a certain "Allan"
from the barangay, alleging that he saw her prepare a paper with money and four (4) plastic
pockets in it. Afterwards, the police officer left their house.
Thereafter, Marvin Lapuz, a neighbor, came to their house and asked Maribel what
happened. Soon after, police officers returned to their house and arrested Maribel Punto and
Marvin Lapuz. They were brought and detained at the Marilao Municipal Police Station,
Marilao, Bulacan.
Maribel Punto was charged with violations of R.A. 9165, Sections 5 and 11, of the
Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. According to Maribel, her drug test result was
negative, and during the said police operation, they hadn’t found anything in her possession.
Maribel had undergone online inquest proceedings.
Similar to the present case, another criminal action against Maribel Punto is undergoing
trial before the Regional Trial Court Branch 6 in Malolos, Bulacan for violation of R.A. 9165
Section 11.

V. ATTACHED DOCUMENT:

a. Pictures from the interview and text message of complaint received through CHAD.

VI. RECOMMENDATION

In view of the foregoing, the undersigned recommend the following actions:

1. Secure statements of the victim and possible witnesses; and
2. Monitor the status of the criminal cases filed against the victim.

Submitted by:

CLAIRE C. BACANI

ABYGAIL C. PARAS

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 Reviewed and indorsed by:

ELMER L. MANIEGO

Noted by:

Atty. LEORAE D. VALMONTE

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