Jeepney driver accuses cop of maltreating him

Another policeman assigned to the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch is in trouble after a jeepney driver he arrested last Saturday for a traffic violation claimed the policeman punched him and even stapled his ears.

But PO1 Albert Luardo denied the allegations of driver Oscar Sarte, dismissing them as fabricated and imagined.

Sarte alleged that Luardo arrested him last Saturday evening because he was able to overtake the vehicle that the policeman was driving while they were both heading toward Talamban.

He also alleged that when he was brought to the Talamban police station, Luardo punched him in the chest and, last Monday night, he was pulled out from the city police stockade, handcuffed and was brought to the CIIB office.

There Sarte said they made him sit on the air, struck him with a broom and even stapled both his ears as they shouted: "Mosukol diay ka'g polis ha."

He also said he was never told why he was arrested while the case was not filed until Monday.

Luardo, however, said that he came from Ayala when he came across Sarte at the corner of Maria Luisa Estate.

He said Sarte was at the lane that was supposed to be leading to the village when the driver suddenly transferred to the lane leading to Talamban nearly hitting Luardo's multicab.

Despite what happened, Sarte reportedly did not stop but rather went on as if nothing happened and proceeded until he stopped upon reaching Sto. Niño Village because a passenger disembarked.

It was then that Luardo blocked Sarte's jeepney so he could not get away, then he disembarked, introduced himself as policeman and then asked for Sarte's driver's license after telling the latter the traffic rule he had just violated.

But Sarte reportedly made a show by shouting "Ah, police diay ka, pakit-a ko sa imong ID bi, nganong ako mang ihatag akong lisensya nimo?"

Luardo said he was wearing fatigue pants and combat boots at the time of the incident but because Sarte kept on insisting, he showed his identification card.

However Sarte never handed his license to Luardo so he went for help to the Talamban police station where they set up a blockade.

Sarte allegedly ignored the roadblock and Luardo and two others got into a police vehicle and chased him, eventually arresting him in sitio Tintay. Luardo said that Sarte kept on provoking him when they returned to the police station but he was able to control his temper.

He said Sarte was arrested for resisting arrest, direct assault and attempted homicide since, he claimed, the driver almost hit him when he ignored the roadblock.

Luardo also explained that they were not able to file a case against Sarte immediately last Monday because he had to attend a training on VIP Security and Protection and later on gave assistance to the representatives of the Optical Media Board who conducted a raid against pirated CDs, VCDs and DVDs downtown. - Ryan P. Borinaga