"Drunk" man punches police chief

CEBU, Philippines - On board the town’s mobile patrol with two of his policemen, San Remigio Police Chief Jose Rovic Villarin helped a drunk man, who was sprawled on the roadside shortly before midnight last Monday.

But Villarin, a police inspector, got a punch in the face instead of a thank-you for his act of concern.

Villarin filed a case for direct assault to a person in authority last Tuesday against Benedicto Rivera, of barangay Bongdo, Borbon, to teach him a lesson.

The police chief suffered from a contusion in his face.

He was heading towards barangay Laaw, Borbon where he lives onboard their mobile patrol with PO3 Windel Pestano and PO3 Felipe Mandal about 11:00 in the evening.

They just came from securing the Mayor Jay Olivar Cup, a basketball tournament.

They saw Rivera sleeping on the roadside of sitio Matin-aw, barangay Laaw.

Concerned about Rivera, Villarin asked his men to make a U-turn and check Rivera, who was on the opposite lane and bring him to somewhere safe.

Villarin asked the minors who were around if they knew Rivera but they denied knowing him. A man who passed by told the policemen he knew Rivera as they came from the same barangay. The man helped the police in bringing Rivera to a waiting shed.

“Amo nalang siyang gikarga sa sakyanan kay basin og maligsan sa daplin sa dalan,” Villarin told The FREEMAN. (We helped him get up because a vehicle might run over him.)

But when they reached the waiting shed, and Rivera got down, he gave the police chief a strong blow, hitting Villarin’s left cheek. Rivera also told them, “Makaila ra unya mo nako.”

The policemen immediately arrested Rivera and took him to the Sogod District Hospital for a liquor test. (FREEMAN)