Cop to face probe for “vigilante links”

The deputy chief of the Cebu City Police Office Security and Service Group, Sr. Insp. Enrique Samosa, is facing investigation regarding alleged ties to so-called vigilantes operating in the city.

This after a woman named Josephine Gallardo, of barangay Sambag, Cebu City, alleged that the policeman threatened to slit her throat if she would not drop an estafa case involving a former policeman who is friend of his.

Last Saturday afternoon, six suspected swindlers were arrested by the Waterfront police station along F. Gonzales St., barangay Sto. Niño, following Gallardo’s complaint they victimized her.

The suspects were identified as former policeman Pablo Tiempo, together with Corazon Cairo, Analiza Gonzaga, Rodrigo Tubil, Dominador Dagondon Jr. and a 16-year-old boy, who allegedly persuaded her to buy an envelope with a “winning” lotto combination worth P1,513.  The envelope also contained capsules said to cure any ailment.

Sources told The Freeman that Tiempo and Samosa started together in the service as members of the now-defunct Philippine Constabulary, until the former was dismissed from the police service years ago.

According to Waterfront investigator Julius Umpad, Gallardo was first victimized by the group in January 2006 and August 2007 and she intended buy from them again so that she could eventually have them arrested.

While she was at the investigation room of the said station noontime last Monday, Samosa approached her and convinced her to drop the case.

“Sayon ra pag-ana og tawo.  Dali ra pagtawag og vigilantes.  Daghan ko og connection,” Gallardo quoted Samosa as saying.  She also said he drew a finger across his throat in a threatening gesture as he said it.

City police deputy director Supt. Paul Labra, called on Gallardo to lodge a formal complaint about the alleged threat before the Internal Affairs Office as they will as file a separate criminal complaint.

Labra said he will order the CIIB to look into Samosa’s statement about “vigilantes”.

“As to the allegation of vigilantes we will look into it. We will call him to the office of CIIB so that he could shed light on it,” Labra told The Freeman last night.

Samosa could not be reached for comment yesterday.

It can be recalled that about 184 men of shady past have been killed in the city since December 2004 by suspected vigilantes whose identities are unknown until now.  -Ryan P. Borinaga/BRP