Four controversial members of the Fuente Police Station were asked to explain their side on the allegations of irregularities in the conduct of their operation during an arrest.
Police Regional Office-7 director Ronald Roderos also urged witnesses to come out and cooperate in the investigation conducted by the Cebu City Police Office.
Noel Pantino Tortor had alleged that the records pertaining to his arrest were not true, claiming that the policemen distorted the facts of the incident.
Tortor told reporters yesterday that he was arrested on October 27, not on October 29 as claimed by PO2 Bernabe Alegado, PO2 Tremaine Sotto, PO1 Emmanuel Victor Blones and PO1 Cristopher Torregosa.
The policemen reportedly arrested Tortor at the corner of Tormis Street and P. del Rosario Street in barangay Sambag Uno in the dawn of October 29 following a call about an armed man roaming in the area.
The police claimed they found from Tortor’s possession a knife and three packs of suspected shabu, an allegation that Tortor vehemently denied.
There were reports that the four policemen tried to extort P150,000 from Tortor’s mother. But when their demand was turned down, a case was filed before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office.
Tortor, when interviewed by reporters inside his detention cell at the Fuente Police Station, expressed fears for his security.
Roderos said Tortor can ask Comendador to put him in another detention cell to avoid harassment from the four policemen. But Comendador said the transfer could only be done through a court order.
Fuente Police Station chief Henry Biñas told The Freeman that he already explained the incident to the city police director.
Biña said he is willing to cooperate in the investigation and will make his men who are involved in the incident available in case investigators might need them.
But he said he is already conducting his own investigation into the matter.
Biñas added that he learned that Tortor has a pending drug case and had gained temporary freedom after posting bail.
He said he also welcomed the move of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau to look into the case so he would not be accused of being biased. — Edwin Ian Melecio/LPM