Naked policeman brandishes gun on board ship

CEBU, Philippines – A policeman assigned in Medellin was arrested and detained on accusations of creating trouble and scandal while on board a ship bound for Leyte Wednesday morning.

PO2 Rodelo Pilapil, Jr., 37, resident of Liloan town, allegedly took off his pants and undergarments while carrying a gun and was believed to be under the influence of liquor.

He was arrested in Pingag Ferry Terminal in Barangay Matlang, Isabel Leyte after the crew of Malverick Ferry, which the policeman boarded in Danao City going to Leyte, asked help from the Pingag Patrol Base.

When the ferry boat anchored at the terminal, Pilapil was immediately arrested. Confiscated from him was a .9mm caliber pistol with 12 rounds of live ammunitions and another 20 rounds of live ammunitions of caliber .45 pistol.

Sr. Supt. Erson Digal, director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) said he received information from the Region 8 Pingag Patrol Base regarding the incident.

Upon receiving the said report, Digal immediately asked Supt. Bonifacio Arresgado, Medellin chief of police, to conduct investigation into the incident.

Arresgado, in a separate interview, said he was not expecting such thing to happen because before the incident, he instructed Pilapil, being a member of the intelligence team, to conduct surveillance with regards to the illegal drugs and illegal gambling.

But he was allegedly surprised after he got a call from Pilapil informing him that he was detained in Isabela, Leyte.

Arresgado believed that Pilapil was influenced by his peers and his being drunk was the reason why he boarded a ferry boat.

Pilapil will be facing charges for violating the Comelec gun ban for carrying a firearm while not wearing his police uniform.

Digal said the police officer may also face administrative case and alarm scandal.

The police official reminded the policemen in the province that there is no problem with drinking and having fun as long as they will not violate any law.

"This will serve as warning to all police officers assigned at the Cebu Provincial Police Office nga kun mu-inum man gani ta kinahanglan nga ibutang gyud nato sa tiyan ug dili sa ulo," Digal said. - With Lesley Caminade of Banat News and Kimberly Clark Pasu-it, USJ-R Masscom intern/WAB (FREEMAN)