CIDG apologizes to Davao columnist arrested by mistake

THE Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has apologized to and sought for the understanding of the Davao-based columnist who was arrested by mistake over the weekend in Cagayan de Oro airport.

In a statement on Monday evening, June 10, 2019, CIDG Zamboanga Peninsula Chief Tom Tuazon offered his “sincerest apologies” to Margarita Valle, a contributor of Davao Today and former columnist of SunStar Davao.

Valle was mistaken for an Elsa Renton and arrested in Laguindingan airport on Sunday morning. She was released in the evening.

“Due to uncertainties and less than 100-percent assurance of your identity from our informant, we have brought you to CIDG Office, Pagadian City that caused you unnecessary anxiety. We do realize that we should have heeded your call regarding your identity from the start and have released you at the airport,” Tuazon said.

“We sincerely request your understanding since that the information given to our detectives on the ground is already a Warrant of Arrest and that the identity of the person on the warrant is only known to the complainant himself,” he added.

Tuazon also noted that the information which resulted in the arrest of Valle came from their “reliable source” in the military.

He said they should have re-validated the information before acting on it.

“With this mistaken identity, we are going to take steps to ensure that this situation does not repeat itself,” said Tuazon.

Tuazon assured that an investigation would be conducted on the said failed operation to identify the lapses of the police personnel involved and hold them accountable.