Another complaint filed vs. cop in alleged extort

Another woman has filed a complaint against traffic investigator SPO1 Romeo Cabrera, who was caught in an entrapment operation at a mall last week for alleged extortion.

The woman filed a complaint against Cabrera at the Internal Affairs Services of the Cebu City Police Office for conduct unbecoming of an officer.

In a three-page affidavit-complaint, Arlene Narval, an owner of eatery along N. Bacalso Avenue, accused Cabrera of uttering humiliating words against her personality and threatening to hurt her.

She said in her affidavit that at about 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 25, Cabrera and two companions were having drinks at her eatery. Cabrera reportedly got mad upon learning that his bill for drinks and food reached P633.

Not contended with his verbal outburst, Narval said, the police officer picked up a plastic stool and threw it away that scared the other customers.

“I confronted him about his acts, which he just shrugged his shoulder and even threatened to slap me,” Narval said.

She added that she tried to contact the 166 police hotline, but was stopped by Cabrera.

Narval has also accused Cabrera of saying humiliating words.

“Ako siyang gi-ingnan nga bastos gyud ka, mura ka og di pulis, of which one of my food server by the name Ely also said gasalig man ka kay pulis,” she said.

After the verbal tussle, Narval said that she went upstairs and when she came back to the eatery, she was told that somebody from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) already paid for the bill.

Cabrera, however, did not yet leave the place and continued drinking.

“Whenever SPO1 Cabrera gets drunk in my store, he looks for trouble by confronting other customers who happen to gaze at their group acting as if he is a tough guy,” she said.

She added that Cabrera allegedly displays his pistol when he is drinking in the store, which scares the other customers.

Narval said that Cabrera’s acts and words continue to hurt her feelings and caused damage to her personal being, reputation and her business.

His acts were unethical, conduct unbecoming for a uniformed PNP personnel and a bad example to the civilian populace which destroys the image of the PNP organization,” Narval said.

Last Feb. 12, Cabrera was arrested in an entrapment operation conducted by the NBI in a mall in downtown Cebu City after receiving P10,000 marked-money from Alma Cabahug.

Cabahug sought NBI assistance after her boyfriend, Patrick Tambog, was detained at the traffic division after Cabrera allegedly found drugs in the car, which the victim’s boyfriend drove when it figured in an accident.

Charges of robbery, violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, R.A. 6713 or Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and arbitrary detention were already filed against Cabrera before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Arbitrary detention was among the charges because Cabrera detained Tambog since February 8 until Feb. 11 without any charges.

According to the victim, Cabrera threatened to file criminal charges against her boyfriend if she could not produce P100,000 but later amount was lowered to P50,000.

Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador Jr., Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) chief, said that for the meantime, Cabrera will be assigned to the Security Service Group and could not yet be discharged until such time there will be decision of the IAS over the complaint. — Garry B. Lao/NLQ