Retired cop gives side about restobar incident

A retired police superintendent who was accused of harassing an activity of an FM station last October 28 denied reports published in the papers and tagged these as “twisted.”

A statement from retired Police Superintendent Rico Palcuto sent to The Freeman office yesterday narrated what happened at 2:25 a.m. on October 28 in front of a restobar at the IT Park in barangay Apas.

The statement said that Palcuto went to the Mabolo Police Station to complain about the loud noise from a restobar that he considered public disturbance and violation of the city’s anti-noise ordinance.

The activity at Loft Bar and Disco was organized by 101.9 FM for the launching of new musical promotions of MTV Philippines. It was held “right outside the Loft Bar and Disco” and that part of the road was occupied.

What Palcuto complained about was the “unbearable loud noise” coming from the four speakers that he said were facing his residence.

Palcuto, according to the statement, complained to the Mabolo Police station against the FM station manager Dodi Conejero and his companions about the disturbance.

He clarified that he went to the area “unarmed” and that he was not drunk at that time. Nobody from the bar personnel, however, showed up to talk to him about the situation, so he left home supposedly to go to sleep.

But he said that the sound and noise even became louder, prompting him to go back to talk to whoever was managing and in charge of the place.

Palcuto also wondered why the (bar) management “was allowed to create too much noise when the Cebu City Council has an ordinance, the anti-noise city ordinance.”

“Why do they have to do their thing right on the street of IT Park and the four speakers facing our residence,” he said.

SPO1 William Tabotabo of the Mabolo Police Station in a telephone interview with The Freeman  confirmed there was a complaint about public disturbance in that area.

The complaint said that a certain Romeo Jumalon of Banilad, Cebu City reported that the noise from the Loft Restobar was very loud and are disturbing residents, particularly Palcuto.

Police Regional director Ronald Roderos has already ordered the Cebu City Police Office to investigate the matter. — Edwin Ian Melecio/RAE