Talisay couple fears for safety, files writ of amparo in CA

Adhmann Canangca-an (center) was escorted by police when he surrendered last Oct. 6 (CDN FILE PHOTO).

FEARING for their safety, the couple, Adhmann and Priscilla Canangca-an, filed yesterday a petition for a Writ of Amparo through their lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo before the Court of Appeals-Visayas office.

Villagonzalo said the Writ is intended to protect his clients’ constitutional rights to life, liberty, and security.

Villagonzalo said that the couple, who hails from Talisay City, are now in hiding due to safety concerns after their house was raided by police officers over the weekend without any search warrant.

“Actually, my clients are now in hiding,” he said.

“Wala pa sila kauli. They are uncertain whether mausab pa ba to kadtong raid sa ilaha so para jud sa ilaha, importante nga makapangayo sila og protection sa court,” he said.

Adhmann was the driver of the getaway vehicle, which helped his cousin, Barangay Councilor Felix Abacajan Jr., flee from the scene during a shootout with police operatives, which claimed the lives of two people in Barangay Maghaway, Talisay City last week.

Abacajan and his brother Joeser were the subjects of a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 18 Judge Gilbert Moises for allegedly keeping unlicensed firearms.

The raid conducted by the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) by reason of the warrant resulted to a shootout, which killed Joeser.

Insisting that he did not participate in the shootout, Adhmann surrendered to the police a few hours after the shooting incident.

He was, however, charged with direct assault with attempted murder. He posted bail in the amount of P120,000 last Monday.

Named as respondents in the petition are Police Supt. Aileen Recla, chief of police of Talisay City, including 12 to 15 other police officers who were not named but indicated to be under the supervision of Recla, as well as PO1 Samuel Alvarez of the PIB.

In their petition, the Canangca-an couple alleged that their rights to life, liberty, and security were violated when Adhmann went to the police to clear his name but was arrested instead and that he was subsequently interrogated without legal counsel.

According to their petition, they claimed that Adhmann that was being physically assaulted as the police tried to extract information from him.

They also also alleged in their petition that there were talks among the police officers during the interrogation, all within hearing distance from Adhmann, of having him “salvaged” as well as side comments that he is “stubborn” and “wants to be killed” before allegedly being punched in the chest one of the respondents.