Policeman cleared of child abuse raps

The Cebu Provincial Prosecutors’ Office has dismissed a complaint for physical injuries in relation to child abuse against a policeman in Balamban town for lack of evidence.

Provincial prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba approved the dismissal of the case against PO2 Eugene Macapaz based on the recommendation of assistant prosecuting attorney Jay Paradiang.

Paradiang found no basis to indict Macapaz of the crime of physical injuries in relation to child abuse as complained by Pedro Nacion.  In a three-page resolution, Paradiang said he finds the allegations of Nacion unbelievable. Nacion, who was 17 at the time, said that on the morning of November 11, 2005 he was riding a motorcycle on his way home from a vigil in Toledo City.

He saw an acquaintance who was on another motorcycle and jokingly shouted at the driver to chase them. 

Macapaz’, who was on a nearby motorcycle, heard him issue the challenge.

The policeman allegedly ordered them to pull over on the side of the road, to which they obliged.  Nacion then claimed that Macapaz punched him several times and pointed his gun at him before leaving them.

Nacion said that after the incident he reported for work in Cebu City and reported the alleged mauling incident only after two days after.  Paradiang said that this prompted him to doubt the complainant’s claim that he was actually mauled.

According to Paradiang, it is against natural human behavior to still go to work after having been heavily beaten up and wait for two days to pass before reporting the incident to the authorities.

Paradiang said that the injuries sustained by Nacion may have been sustained anywhere.  — Fred P. Languido/BRP