Three lawyers nabbed in Makati bar released pending further investigation

(Eagle News)–The three lawyers who were nabbed for “intimidation” and “obstruction of justice” in a Makati bar have been released pending “further investigation.”

Makati Senior Assistant Prosecutor ordered the release of Lenie Rocel Rocha, Jan Vincent Soliven, and Romulo Bernard Alarkon, saying there was a need to determine what acts the three supposedly committed, especially as pertaining to the constructive possession of illegal drugs charge the police filed against them.

Apart from this charge, the police filed charges for obstruction of justice, resistance and disobedience to authorities, and for violation of an ordinance banning the crossing of a police line against them, after their supposed actuations during a police inspection of the Time in Manila bar in Makati on Thursday.

Days earlier, the police conducted a raid in the place, which yielded ecstasy tablets, drug paraphernalia, among others, prompting the authorities to arrest at least 30 employees who allegedly supplied illegal drugs to the bar’s customers.

Charges will also allegedly be filed against the bar owner, former Rivermaya singer Rico Blanco , his co-owners and the bar manager.

The police said the three lawyers entered the premises of the bar, which was the subject of a search warrant issued by a Makati court, took several pictures and videos, and “intimidat(ed) the members of the searching team without proper and prior coordination.”

“The lawyers also failed to present any authorization from the bar owners whom they (allegedly) are representing,” the police said.

The lawyers’ camp denied the allegations.