A member of the Provincial Mobile Group was ordered relieved from his detail as augmentation policeman to the Ronda Police Station, after a 78-year-old man, who the policeman allegedly punched on the jaw last July 25, eventually died four days later or last July 29.
It was Ronda Mayor Esteban Sia who went to the office of Cebu Provincial Police director Carmelo Valmoria yesterday to report the fate of the septuagenarian, Donie Noel, days after he was punched allegedly by PO1 Christian Peñafiel, of the PMG.
After receiving the report of the mayor, Valmoria then reassigned Peñafiel to the Provincial Security Group while being investigated by the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch, headed by Supt. Anthony Bagarinao.
“I directed (Bagarinao) to look into the complaint of Mayor Sia; they were pinpointing Peñafiel but also included (in the case) are the police on duty that time, “ Valmoria said.
Sia said the relatives of Donie, a resident of barangay Ylaya of the town, sought his assistance when the latter died last July 29, four days after suffering from a severe contusion on his left face.
The case started on the evening of July 25 when Donie accompanied his son, Russel, to the police station to clarify some matters.
Earlier, Russel was the subject of responding town policemen over an armed-person alarm. The policemen were informed that Russel, who owns a vulcanizing shop, was reportedly drunk and was brandishing a firearm of undetermined caliber.
When the policemen arrived at the place, Russel was already asleep but his father Donie later advised him to go to the police station to clarify the matter. The son did meet Insp. Allan Rosario, head of the Special Reserve Unit.
While Rosario was questioning Russel, however, Peñafiel arrived with POI Leo Susvilla, also a member of the SRU, then for no apparent reson allegedly punched Russel. The hapless Russel was stunned, and asked Penafiel about the act while threatening to have the incident recorded at the police blotter.
Dione, who was just a few meters away, approaced Peñafiel and asked why he punched the younger Peñafiel. Without answering however, the policeman allegedly punched Donie to the jaw, causing the old man to slump on a table.
The mayor said there was however no direct link yet between the contusion incurred during the incident but the victim was in pain after that. During a medical examination, the large contusion on Donie’s left jaw became noticeable. — Ferliza C. Contratista with reports of Rey Pasaporte of Banat News/LPM