KAPAG IKAW AY INAARESTO
TANDAAN
* Kumalma lang. Ang pagka-aresto ay hindi katapusan ng mundo. Tumutok sa bawat pangyayaring nagaganap upang mabawasan ang pangamba, at huwag mag-alala sa mga kung ano ang susunod na mangyayari.
* Humiling sa isang kamag-anak, kaibigan, o taong di kilala (kunin ang pangalan at address) na maging witness sa paghuli sa iyo. Kung may cell phone, mag-text sa iyong pamilya, mga kaibigan, at abogado, para malaman nilang ikaw ay inaaresto. Tawagan sila at hayaan buhay ang linya ng telepono upang madinig nila ang nangyaryari.
* Kunin ang pangalan, opisyal na position, opisina at unit, ng mga tao na umaaresto sa iyo.
* Hingin ang kopya ng kanilang warrant of arrest para sa iyo at suriin itong mabuti. Alamin kung tumpak ang pangngalan mo na nakasulat sa warrant at kung ano ang paglabag sa batas na dahilan ng pag-aresto sa iyo.
* Kung may mali o depekto ang warrant, ipahayag ang iyong pagtutol pero huwag pumalag o gumamit ng dahas.
* Kung ikaw ay ligal na inaaresto, maaring kang kapkapan para sa posiblen deadly weapons or anuman bagay na dala mo na maaring gamiting katibayan para sa krimen na dahilan kung bakit ka inaaresto.
* Alamin sa iyong arresting officer kung saan ka dadalhin. Pilitin na dapat ay may kasama kang kamag-anak, kaibigan o di-kilalang tao na naka-witness ng iyong pag-aresto. Sabihin sa arresting officer na ito ay para na rin sa proteksyon ninyong dalawa.
* Hilingin na payagan kang tumawag sa iyong abogado; kapag tumanggi, sabihan ang iyong kamag-anak, kaibigan, o ibang witness sa iyong pagka-aretso na sila ang tumwag sa iyong abogado. Ipaalam sa iyong abogado ang mga pangyayari, ang pangaan ng iyong arresting officers, ang dahilan ng iyong pagka-aresto, at kung saan ka dadalhin ng arresting team.
* Sa lahat ng pagkakataon, huwag tutulan ng pisikal ang pag-aresto sa iyo. Ipahayag na ikaw ay tutol sa iyong pagka-aresto wala kang waiver o pagtalikod na gagawin sa lahat ng karapatan mo, at sasama ka nang mahihahon sa arresting team para iwasan ang karahasan.
* Kung ang humuhuli sa iyo ay naasuot sibilyan o hindi unipormado, or tumatangging ibigay ang kanilang pangalan, o walang maipakita na warrant of arrest, huwag sumama sa kanila. Hilingin na tunawag ka ng pulis upang maklaro ang kanilang otoridad. Ayon sa batas, ang mga arresting officer ay dapat naka-uniporme, maayos ang kumilos, at may paggalang sa mga karapatan at dignidad ng kanilang aarestuhin. Kung ang arresting officer ay lumalabag sa mga ito, huwag mag-cooperate sa kanila pero huwag ding gumamit ng dahas. Hayaang bitbitin ka nila, magsisigaw at humingi ng tulong, mag-eksena upang tumawag pansin ng mga kapitbahay at mga nagdaraan. Tandaan ang lahat ng paglabag sa iyong mga karapatan at sa unang pagkakataon na makaharap sa judge o piskal/public prosecutor, mag-report at ikwento ang mga naganap.
* Kung ikaw ay sinabihan ng mga police officer hindi ka hinuhuli pero iniimbita lang for “questioning”, sagutin na kailangan mo munang kumonsulta sa iyong abogado. Gawin ito at sabihan ang iyong abogado na kausapin ang mga officer at itakda ang oras, petsa, at lugar kung saan pwedeng maganap ang questioning. Kung hindi ka payagan na kumonsulta sa iyong abogado, huwag sumama sa mgaofficer. Kapag pinilit ka nila, ang magaganap ay isang pag-aresto na rin.
* Ang pangkalahatang probisyon ng batas ay pwede ka lang ma-aresto kung mayroong valid na warrant of arrest na galing sa isang competent court. Gayunman, may tatlong exception sa probisyong ito ng batas:
– Kung ikaw ay may ginawa, o ginagawa, o nagbabalak gumawa ng krimen, sa harap mismo ng arresting officer;
– Kung may krimen or pglabag sa batas naganap pa lang at ang arresting officer ay may dahilan, batay sa personal na kaalaman sa mga facts at circumstances ng nangyari, na may probable cause na ikaw ang maysala;
– Kung ikaw ay tumakas mula sa kulungan o habang inililipat mula sa kulungan.
ULITIN NATIN: MAGING MAHINAHON.
Mag-concentrate sa mga nangayayari. Huwag mangamba ng lubos sa mga kung ano ang susunod na mangyayari. Maaring ang iyong kinatatakutan ay kathang-isip lang. Huwag mag-alala kung malimutan mo ang lahat ng mga payong ito. Hindi lahat ay pwedeng maganap ng perpekto. Maipagtatanggol mo ang iyong mga karapatan kung ikaw ay kalmado at malinaw ang kaisipan.
IF YOU ARE BEING ARRESTED
Remember:
* Stay calm. Being arrested is not the end of the world. Some apprehension is unavoidable but you can reduce this by concentrating on each event as it happens, and not letting your imagination run wild about what will happen next.
* Ask a relative or friend or even a stranger (get the name and address) to witness your arrest. If you own a cell phone, send a text message to your family, friends, and lawyer informing them that you are being arrested. You may also call your family, friends, and lawyer so they may listen in on your arrest.
* Ask the person or persons arresting you for their names, their official positions, and the office or unit they belong to.
* Ask for a copy of their authority to arrest you and examine it carefully. Note particularly if you are correctly named in the warrant of arrest, and the offense for which you are being arrested.
* If there is any defect in the warrant, register your objection to being arrested but do not resist or use force.
* If you are lawfully arrested, you may be searched for dangerous weapons or anything, which may be used as proof that you committed the crime for which you are being arrested.
* Inquire from your arresting officer where you will be taken. Ask that you be accompanied by the relative, friend or stranger who witnessed your arrest. Assure the arresting officers that this is for their protection as well as yours.
* Ask to be allowed to telephone your lawyers; if denied, ask your relative, friend or other witness to your arrest, to do so. Inform your lawyer of your arrest, the identity of the arresting officers, the cause of your arrest, and where you will be taken.
* Do not, at any time, offer any physical resistance to the arrest. State that you object to your arrest and are not waiving any of your rights, but are going peacefully in order to avoid violence.
* If the persons making the arrest are in civilian clothes, or refuse to give their names or show any warrant of arrest, refuse to go with them. Ask them to let you call for a policeman to verify their authority. Do not agree to being blindfolded. The law requires arresting officers to be properly dressed, to behave properly, and to respect your rights and your dignity. If the arresting officers violate these requirements, do not cooperate, but do not use violence either. Make them carry you out, shout for help, create a scene so that your neighbors and other passersby may notice what is happening. Remember all violations of your rights and complain about them at the first opportunity after your arrest, when you are presented to a judge or fiscal/public prosecutor.
* If you are told that you are not being arrested but merely invited for questioning, reply that you will consult your lawyer first. Do so, then get your lawyer to talk to the officers and arrange a date, time, and place for your questioning. If they do not allow you to consult your lawyer, refuse to go along with them. If they insist, their acts become an arrest and the preceding advice applies.
* The general rule is that you can only be arrested upon proper warrant of arrest issued by a competent court. However, there are three exceptions to this rule:
– When you have committed, are actually committing, or attempting to commit a crime in the presence of the arresting officer;
– When an offense has just been committed and the arresting officer has probable cause to believe based on personal knowledge of facts and circumstances that you committed the offense;
– When you have escaped from prison or detention or while being transferred from one confinement to another.
REPEAT: REMAIN CALM. Concentrate on what is happening now. Do not imagine what will happen next. Many of your fears are self-created. Above all, do not worry if you forgot to do any of the things listed above. They are counsels of perfection, not always attainable. As long as you remain calm and collected, you will be able to protect your rights.