Teacher claims cop mauled him

A public secondary school teacher said he was mauled by a policeman assigned in Cebu City at the vicinity of the Toledo City Bus Terminal at past 2 a.m. yesterday.

The victim identified as Owen Dejarne, 26, of barangay Luray II, Toledo City; a public high school teacher said he was beaten by PO1 Rodney Cambarijan, a resident of barangay Ibo, Toledo City.

SPO1 Revelito Tadeque, the investigator of the case, said Dejarne was drinking with friends at the terminal when Cambarijan and another man came and attacked him for still unknown reasons.

The policeman allegedly pistol-whipped him in the nape then hit his forehead with a beer bottle when he was down.

“Pag-abot sa suspetsado deretso’g kuha sa iyang pusil, gihapak sa tangkugo sa biktima.  Human malamba, mikuha siya’g botelya dayong hapak na sad sa agtang sa biktima,” the investigator said.

Not contented, the suspect allegedly smashed the victim’s cellular phone said to be worth P10,000 and reportedly threatened the victim by saying: “I-salvage tika ‘ron.”

The victim reported the matter immediately to the Toledo City police station.

But Cambarijan also filed a complaint accusing Dejarne of shooting at him while he was standing in front of his house.

“Pagka-1:30 samtang nagbarog siya sa dalan gawas sa iyang pinuy-anan kauban ang iyang ig-agaw nga si Oliver Pahaganas, kalit lang milabay sa ilang duol ang motorsiklo nga duna’y sakay’ng duha ka tawo,” the blotter read.

Cambarijan said that one of the men fired at him before the motorcycle sped towards barangay Poblacion.  He believes Dejarne was the shooter.

But Dejarne insists he has evidence to prove that it was the policeman who fired at him.  — Garry B. Lao/MEEV