Cop hurt while trying to pacify warring groups

CEBU, Philippines - An off-duty policeman assigned in Cebu City was injured while he tried to pacify two rioting groups during a fiesta celebration in barangay Tapul, Tabogon town Saturday dawn.

SPO2 Leo Hortelano, presently assigned at the Carbon Police Station of the Cebu City Police Office, sustained a wound on the head after he was hit by a stone thrown by one of the members of the two warring groups.

Tabogon police said that a disco was held in the barangay in celebration of their annual fiesta when two groups of men suddenly started throwing bottles and other hard objects to each other at almost 3 a.m.

Hortelano, who resides near the disco area, responded to the scene but was also hit with a stone on the head while trying to pacify both groups. He was reportedly mistaken as one of the enemies but all arrested suspects denied being responsible for hurting the cop.

PO1 Dario Sta. Teresita of Tabogon Police Station said Hortelano was taken to a hospital to have his five to seven-inch cut on the head stitched. Hortelano is now in a stable condition and is now in Cebu City for his duty.

Aside from Hortelano, the members of the rioting groups who were also injured during the incident were Rene Pepito, Jr., Joseph Book, Harris Malazarte, and Peter Arpom. All are legally-aged and residents of the town.

In connection with the incident, Tabogon police arrested the suspects namely, Alfred Maloloy-on, 29; Alberto Loberanes and Victor Sinoy, both 19; Regner Booc and Dave Monroid, both 18.

The other suspects who remain at large were identified as Junvil Loberanes, Renje Ginoo, John Rey Gulben, Renneth Doldol, Polaris Garcia, Bryan Garcia, and Ronaldo Tanucan.

According to Sta. Teresita, the commotion tarted when Pepito allegedly accidentally hit the pitcher which contained the liquor drank by the suspects.

Because of the influence of liquor, members of the two groups then started striking each other using canes and metal tubes and threw stones at one another.

The suspects are now detained while waiting for appropriate charges that will be filed against them. — THE FREEMAN