Victim of alleged punching by Ronda cop laid to rest

The 78-year-old man who died after he was allegedly punched by a member of Ronda police was laid to rest yesterday but his family still continues to seek justice for his sad fate.

However, Russel Noel, 33, son of the victim Donnie Noel, may no longer appear during the investigation that would be conducted by the Cebu Provincial Police Office.

Ronda Mayor Esteban Sia, who was among those who sent Donnie to his final rest at the Ronda Catholic Cemetery, said yesterday that the younger Noel was summoned by the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch of CPPO to submit his statement against PO1 Cristian Peñafiel and all those present during the alleged punching incident.

The incident allegedly happened on July 25 inside the police station where Donnie accompanied Russel to clear his name over an armed person alarm raised earlier that day.

Russel said as he was being investigated, an allegedly intoxicated Peñafiel beat him up without any provocation, which prompted his father to intervene. But the policeman allegedly punched the older Noel hitting him on the right jaw.

Since then, Donnie allegedly appeared depressed and disturbed until he died of a heart attack four days later.

But Mayor Sia said that Russel was advised by his lawyer not to appear in the investigation that would be conducted by PIDMB.

Sia said Russel may only tell the investigators to seek a copy of the administrative and criminal complaint his family has filed against Peñafiel at the Office of the Visayas Ombudsman.

“So that they will not be tagged as forum shopping so it is best for the provincial police to just secure the copy of affidavit from the Ombudsman,” Sia said.

An autopsy conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation-7 medico legal officer Rene Cam revealed that Donnie died of hardening of the arterial wall, which caused the heart attack.

Cam said emotional stress such as the punching incident may have triggered the heart attack that caused the victim’s death.

Peñafiel was relieved from his mother unit, the Provincial Mobile Group (PMG) and temporarily transferred to the Provincial Security and Service Group (PSSG) while investigation is going on.

CPPO director Carmelo Valmoria assured the investigation into the incident will not be biased, saying they will not leave any stone unturned. — Ferliza C. Contratista/WAB