The management of Eternal Gardens strongly condemns the warrantless arrest by the PNP Batangas City on two of our employees, based on a complaint filed by a member of the City Prosecutor of Batangas City, and the unjust treatment they endured during an incident that occurred on Friday, October 13.
This incident took place when our client, the complainant, raised concerns about a missing marble marker on her memorial property at Eternal Gardens. Upon receiving the complaint, the client was informed that the company would conduct an investigation into the missing marker. We assured the client that the company would take appropriate actions.
Regrettably, despite our sincere efforts to resolve the situation, the complainant adamantly refused our assistance and insisted on pursuing legal action against our company.
The situation escalated when police officers, who were fetched by the complainant, took our employees into custody. They were brought to the PNP Batangas City for an official statement. To our dismay, they were subjected to inquest proceedings at the Police Station Investigation Room by an Inquest Fiscal, without the presence of our legal team or at least representation by the Public Attorney’s Office. Despite being informed that our company lawyers were en route and a request to await their arrival, our employees were later detained.
Eternal Gardens Management is deeply concerned about the manner in which our employees were treated throughout this ordeal. We are equally dismayed by the blatant abuse of authority when police authorities effected a warrantless arrest when the situation did not justify the same. We also condemn the violation of the rights of our employees, who were deprived of their rights to be represented by legal counsel during custodial investigation and the inquest.
We stand by our employees during this trying time and will seek legal remedies to protect their rights, correct the situation, and hold those responsible for these condemnable acts accountable.
We now call on the Department of Justice and the Philippine National Police to investigate the clear and deliberate violation of procedures and provisions of the law to benefit personal interest at the expense of our employees’ rights.
