Court junks Velasco raps

Velasco was among seven persons arrested by the PNP-CIDG using quashed search warrants issued by another Quezon City judge

A Quezon City court has dismissed all charges against labor leader Dennise Velasco in relation to the 10 December 2020 operations held by the police against several unionists.

QC Regional Trial Court Branch 220 Judge Jose Pineda threw out the charges of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives against Velasco after he moved to quash the search warrant used by the police to search his house on International Human Rights Day.

“Considering that the search and seizure warrant, in this case, was procured in violation of the Constitution and the Rules of Court, all items seized in the accused’s house, being ‘fruits of the poisonous tree,’ are inadmissible for any purpose in [any] proceeding,” the judge said.

“Hence, the complaints filed against accused Velasco for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives, based on illegally obtained evidence have no more leg to stand on,” he added.

The judge ordered the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to immediately release Velasco from his detention cell in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

Judge Pineda averred that the pieces of evidence presented before the court were insufficient to prove the existence of probable cause.