3 law enforcers cleared of physical injury raps

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas cleared a policeman and three traffic enforcers of slight physical injuries and bribery charges filed against them by a driver and a conductor.

Driver Ricky Semblante earlier filed the charges against PO1 Rodolfo Tumpalan Jr. of the Cebu City Police Office, traffic enforcers Aldwen Raganas, Alberto Ollaban and Lowel Yguinto of the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management.

Semblante said that last October 26 while he was driving his jeepney along Kaohsiung-Sergio Osmeña Street near Makro, a CITOM multicab blocked him without warning that he was to be apprehended.

Then he drove to Mantuyong, Mandaue City, where he got into an accident with another jeepney and the same multicab arrived to arrest him.

He said Tumpalan got off the multicab and punched him in the right hip and drove his head against the multicab causing injuries. Then the four respondents brought him and his conductor Junie Bihag to Mandaue City Police Office Traffic Division.

Semblante further alleged that Tumpalan took his necklace worth P2,000 and asked him what gift he could offer for his release. He told the police he had nothing to give him.

The respondents denied the allegations. They confirmed flagging down Semblante's jeepney in Kaohsiung Street saying it was speeding, was out of its route and playing loud music.

They said Semblante did not stop and they chased him, catching up with him only when he met an accident with another jeepney.

Graft investigator Noel Bragat said that the complainants had different versions of the way Semblante was struck.

Bragat added that Semblante's medical certificate does not show who or what injured him and that it would be impossible for a law enforcer to commit bribery infront of his fellow enforcers without being noticed. - Liv G. Campo