2 minors accuse police official of mauling them

CEBU, Philippines - A police official is in hot water after two minors accused him of mauling them last Saturday afternoon inside the Talamban police station.

The mother of one of the two complainants, both 17 years old, accompanied them to the office of Mandaue City Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna from whom they sought assistance after P/Insp. Gerardo Fiel allegedly mauled them last Sunday after they were accused of stealing scrap iron.

Fiel is a field training policeman and a shift officer assigned at the Talamban Police Station. One the complainants is a resident of barangay Basak, Mandaue City while the other, a cousin, lives in Medellin town and came to Cebu only to visit.

One of the boys said he and his cousin went to barangay Pit-os last past midday last Sunday to buy scrap iron but they reportedly did not know that the two pieces they bought was actually stolen.

After they paid P160 for the scrap iron, one of the bystanders reportedly shouted and accused them of stealing the scrap iron. They were then turned over to the Talamban Police Station around 1pm.

When Fiel arrived at the police station around 4pm and learned that the complainants were accused of stealing, he reportedly ordered them to kneel on a bench and beat them using a broomstick.

Fiel also allegedly punched one boy on the face and slapped the other.

Fortuna said he will help look for a lawyer for the complainants so they can execute affidavits and file a formal complaint against Fiel before the People’s Law Enforcement Board.

Fortuna also presented the two minor to Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama. — Flor Z. Perolina/JMO (THE FREEMAN)