RCMP Watch

(Vancouver Province) - Anger among B.C.’s Filipino community over the alleged mistreatment of a Richmond family by RCMP demands an urgent response. The circumstances, as reported to date, are deeply disturbing.

Cesar Dalde and his wife, Harlyn, were at home last Monday night when they received a call telling them their son Charle, 24, was in ER at hospital.

As they prepared to leave with their 18-year-old son, they were met by three gun-toting RCMP officers who ordered them to put up their hands. The three were then made to lie on the floor and were handcuffed, while police searched their apartment.

Upon their release some 15 minutes later, the family went to the hospital, where they were told Charle Dalde was dead. When they asked to see the body, another officer allegedly refused them permission, and they returned home.

Charle Dalde was previously unknown to police, and a 24-year-old man, Umut Ari, has since been charged with his murder.

Richmond RCMP do not dispute that the family members were handcuffed. Apparently speaking in general terms, police spokesman Dale Carr told the Richmond News: “You don’t know who’s a victim or who’s a suspect at that particular point, and part of that process is unfortunately at times arresting people and handcuffing them.” Carr says “senior management” is reviewing the case. But a joint statement issued by Filipino groups claims the treatment of the Dalde family is “another example of the systemic racism faced by the Filipino community in Canada.” It is premature to reach such a damning conclusion. But the implications are too grave to allow the police to investigate their own actions.

At the very least, there should be an inquiry by the RCMP’s commission for public complaints.