FTP cop mauled, loses service pistol

CEBU, Philippines - A group of unidentified youngsters mauled a policeman before taking away his service firearm yesterday dawn in Barangay Sambag 1, Cebu City.

Homicide Section personnel identified the victim as PO1 Saldy Villamo Salvo, 25, currently undergoing Field Training Program and is assigned with the Tourist Action Center of the Cebu City Police Office.

His firearm, a caliber .45 Norinco pistol, was luckily recovered later by a security guard and was turned over to the police.

Sr. Insp. Michael Bastes, chief of the Fuente Police Station, said the victim was parking his motorcycle at almost 4 a.m. supposedly to get inside his house when a group of unidentified young men suddenly struck his head with empty bottles.

Bastes said the victim came from a party in celebration of his group’s victory over other government officials in a contest earlier that day organized by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Salvo told his colleagues that he was already sleepy so he decided to go home.

After taking turns beating the policeman, the perpetrators took his service firearm and ran.

Responding policemen from the Mobile Patrol Group took Salvo to the Cebu City Medical Center and later transferred him to the PNP Hospital at the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) headquarters for treatment of the head injuries he sustained.

The victim was already stable yesterday afternoon, Bastes said.

The police official said a security guard of the City Central School recovered the firearm from the crime scene where the perpetrators had left it.

Around 9 .am., the firearm was turned over to the police.

Bastes said they will then submit a progress report to the CCPO Director, Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe.

Asked if there was liability on the part of Salvo, Bastes said there was none because the victim was caught off guard during the incident and did not lost the weapon because of mere “katangahan” or negligence. — THE FREEMAN