Cop who hit old man is not yet off the hook

Although the autopsy conducted by National Bureau of Investigation-7 medico-legal officer Rene Cam on the septuagenarian allegedly punched by a policeman in Ronda town pointed to arteriosclerosis as the cause of death, the accused is not off the hook.

This time, it is the National Police Commission’s turn to probe PO1 Christian Peñafiel after he reportedly punched 70-year-old Donnie Noel. Noel died four days later.

In an interview, Napolcom regional director Bernardo Calibo said that Donnie’s son, Russell, along with other members of the family, visited his office yesterday to raise concerns on Peñafiel and the other policemen who were around when the incident happened.

Late night of July 25, Donnie accompanied Russell to the Ronda Police Station to supposedly clear his son’s name after the young Noel became the subject of an armed person alarm earlier.

According to Ronda Mayor Esteban Sia, an alleged intoxicated Peñafiel arrived with PO1 Leo Susvilla while the investigation was conducted, and without provocation reportedly beat up Russell.  

At the sight of his son being beaten up, Donnie began asking the policemen for explanation. Instead, he reportedly received a punch from Peñafiel.

Peñafiel will be invited to Calibo’s office after the Napolcom regional director had immediately ordered for a confrontation between the accused, the other cops present during the incident, as well as the complainants.

“This will pave the way for possible administrative charges against Peñafiel, separate from the complaint filed with the Office of the Ombudsman,” Calibo said.

It will not only be Peñafiel who will be summoned to the Napolcom-7 this Thursday, but Ronda Police Chief, Police Insp. Milo Dagasdas, as well, and the rest of the cops who were around during the incident.

Calibo said that the complainants had mentioned of withdrawing the complaint from the Ombudsman filed last week and will instead focus on the administrative aspect with the Napolcom-7.

Meanwhile, Cebu Provincial Police Office head, Senior Supt. Carmelo Valmoria said that despite the result of the autopsy showing that the punch has no direct link on the cause of Donnie’s death in Ronda, Peñafiel is still not off the hook.

The autopsy pointed at arteriosclerosis or the hardening of the arterial walls and blood vessels that eventually triggered a heart attack as the cause of Donnie’s death.

However, Cam said that depression may have also triggered rupture of the blood vessels.

Peñafiel was relieved from the Provincial Mobile Group to the Provincial Security and Service Group, while Donnie was laid to rest last Saturday. — Ferliza C. Contratista/MEEV