Man claims to be a lawyer, attacks cop

An unidentified man believed to be a lawyer allegedly attacked a police officer while lodging a complaint against a Korean national together with a city councilor early yesterday.

Chief Inspector Dirkie Sorronda, assistant chief of the Philippine National Police Regional Dental Health Unit based at Camp Sotero Cabahug, yesterday lodged his complaint before the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch against the man.

According to Sorronda, around 12:30 a.m. yesterday he was inside the dental office talking to Senior Inspector George Ylanan, chief of the Vice Control Section, who was with another policeman.

City Councilor Joey Daluz was reportedly present at that time accompanying a group of complainants against the Korean national who was with a group of girls they claimed to be minors.

Ylanan and his men then invited for questioning the Korean national and his girl companions.

Sorronda said Ylanan brought the girls to his office to undergo a dental checkup to determine if they were indeed minors.

Although his office received no formal request from Ylanan, Sorronda told him that based on their personal appearance, the girls were already more than 18 years old.

Ylanan then reportedly released the girls who went back to an uptown restaurant and allegedly harassed the complainants.

The complainants, some of whom introduced themselves as prosecutors, rushed to Sorronda's office and questioned him why he released the girls.

When Sorronda replied that he was not the one who released the girls, the man claiming to be a lawyer then allegedly attacked him. The police officer claimed that he sustained injuries in the head and left ear.

CIIB chief Paul Labra, on the other hand, ordered for an investigation into the incident. - Jose P. Sollano