Police bodyguard of town mayor in mauling complaint

A policeman assigned as police escort of Pinamungajan Mayor Jeffrey Yapha is now facing complaint before the Cebu Provincial Police Office for allegedly mauling a 24-year-old resident of the town last March 5, 2006.

In her affidavit, Teofania Villanueva, the mother of the alleged victim, said PO2 Dave Talaboc and his two companions mauled her son Erick near the town's cockpit area early this month.

Villanueva said that at around 7:30 p.m. last March 5, a neighbor, Richard Tolo, informed her that Erick was beaten by the policeman, who was identified later as Talaboc, and his two companions Norman Taping and Severino Salgarino.

According to Villanueva, her son was brought to the police headquarters where he was detained.

After she was informed of the incident, Villanueva said she rushed to the police station and saw her son crying inside the detention cell.

The mother said when she confronted Talaboc at the station, the police officer said her son had a confrontation with a group and when they responded to the alarm, only Erick was apprehended since the other group had fled. "Nanagan man mao wala madakpi," the policeman reportedly told Villanueva.

But when she asked Talaboc to release her son, the latter only told her that he did not have the key of the jail since his companion kept it.

Later, she said, she was informed that the key of the detention cell was being kept by a detained prisoner identified as Carlos Undalok.

She further claimed that Talaboc told her that her son would be released if she would sign the police blotter. When she signed the blotter, her son was then released.

Villanueva said she noticed that her son sustained bruises and contusions in different parts of his body.

In his affidavit, Erick said that he was walking in front of the town's cockpit area near the gasoline station when Talaboc, believed to be under the influence of liquor, arrested him.

Erick claimed that he noticed Talaboc had two other companions, who were later identified as Taping and Salgarino. Before the incident, Erick said he went to pacify his neighbors who were arguing while having a few drinks.

Villanueva's complaint against Talaboc was supported with a medical certificate issued by Shiela Faciol, the municipal health officer of Pinamungajan. - Jose P. Sollano