Cop accused of pointing gun at other cops at MEZ

CEBU, Philippines - A policeman from the Police Regional Office-7 has been accused by eleven other policemen who are detailed at the Mactan Economic Zone (MEZ) of pointing his gun on them last Wednesday evening.

PO1 Alex Baquerquer was allegedly under the influence of liquor when he stormed the Zone’s police headquarters in front of the gate 1 at past 7 o’clock last Wednesday.

Baquerquer allegedly was unruly at the time and was looking for the investigator who had reported the alleged harassment he allegedly committed last May 29, which prompted the MEZ management to file a case against him in the Office of the Visayas Ombudsman.

His fellow cop, PO1 Anselmo Fausto said Baquerquer was reeking of liquor when he barged into their office and pointed a gun at him thrice.

“Naka inom ata kasi, amoy alak eh. He pointed his gun at me thrice and I tried to grab it from him. On the third time he stepped backward and pointed the gun on my head demanding for our investigator. At ng sinabihan ko siya na wala dito, ang sabi niya sa akin ikaw na lang ang investigator,” said Policeman Anselmo Fausto.

MEZ has its own policemen from the PNP with ranks similar to the ranks in the military.

Licenses for their firearms are issued by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) , being a separate entity, and not by the PNP.

In the last elections, MES was even exempted from the Comelec gun ban.

Fausto said he was alone when Baquerquer came to his office at past 7 a.m. looking for their investigator.

As Baquerquer went out of the headquarters, Fausto alerted his two colleagues through the radio.

But the two failed to arrest Baquerquer because the policeman pointed his gun at them when they met at Gate 5.

The same also happened to other zone policemen detailed at Gate three and four.

“Tinatago niya iyong baril niya sa likuran kaya nang lapitan niya yong mga kasamahan namin akala nila o.k lang pero bigla rin silang tinututukan ng baril,” he said.

Acting Lapu-Lapu City police director Mariano Natuel immediately dispatched a team of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) when he received a call for assistance from Col. Jerry Necesito, the zone policemen’s chief, but Baquerquer had already left on his motorcycle.

Natuel said if the allegations against Baquerquer were true then he would file an administrative sanction against him especially that it was the second time that he had harassed guards in the place.

Last May 29, Baquerquer allegedly got mad and harassed the detailed guards at the zone for refusing him entry because his motorcycle lacked a MEZ sticker.

He was looking for his girlfriend and daughter who were living inside the MEZ property.

His girlfriend formerly worked as a security guard at MEZ.

Insp. Maurof Bantor, the desk officer on duty at the Lapu-Lapu City police office, confirmed that 11 zone policemen led by a certain Sgt. Romero came to their office at past 8 p.m. to report the harassment.   (FREEMAN NEWS)