Chief: Cop didn't rob Japanese

CEBU, Philippines - For the Mandaue City Police Office director Senior Supt. Noel Gillamac, there was a “lapse of judgment” on the part of one of his men who was arrested for allegedly robbing and punching a Japanese national.

Gillamac said their initial investigation also showed that PO2 Bruce Taneo had no intention to rob Masami Kon late last Friday in Barangay Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City.

“Based sa initial investigation, ang iyang intensiyon was not to hold up kay if hold-up pa unya pulis ka, you won’t leave traces. Buang ka kung manulis ka knowing na pulis gud ka,” Gillamac said.

Last Friday night, Kon, 48, who works at Shim Cebu Plating Corp. in the Mactan Export Processing Zone 2, was driving to work in his Toyota Revo when he accidentally sideswiped a woman along Maximo Patalinghug Ave.

After he disembarked to check on her, Taneo drove up on a motorcycle and allegedly pointed his gun at Kon, took his wallet, handcuffed him, punched him repeatedly and detached the rear plate number of his car before leaving.

Gillamac said that Taneo, who was off-duty that time, admitted being quite drunk as he impulsively detached the plate number of Kon’s Revo without any legal basis.

“Di man daw sila magkasinabot sa Hapon. Iya untang pa-drive-on padung sa police station, unya di man musunod. Mao tong nagkalalis sila,” Gillamac said.

Taneo proceeded to the Basak Police Station of the LLCPO supposedly to turn over the wallet. He was, instead, arrested.

Responding policemen went to the area and accompanied the Japanese national to the police station, still handcuffed, to report the incident.

Taneo denied punching Kon.

The wallet, Taneo said, really contained only P2,650, not P12,000 as claimed by the victim, who temporarily resides in Lahug, Cebu City.

Right now, Gillamac said, he is waiting for the full report of their ongoing investigation to determine if Taneo is administratively liable.

“If job-related ang gibuhat, atong suportaon, but if dili, ato gyud pasakaan og kaso because we don’t tolerate anang mga kabuang and we are eliminating scalawags in our organization. Lesson ni para sa atong mga kapulisan,” Gillamac said.

They will also see if Taneo violated a policy of the PNP considering that he wore the upper part of the official PNP field uniform at the time, Gillamac said.

He said it is up to the LLCPO if they will file criminal charges against the policeman.

The MCPO director also challenged LLCPO director Anthony Obenza to arrest and file a case against Taneo if his alleged illegal drug activities are proven.

During their usual exchanging of information, Gillamac said Obenza told him that the LLCPO has been monitoring Taneo after receiving reports that he was allegedly always seen in a drug den in Lapu-Lapu City. Taneo lives in Barangay Gun-ob.

This information has not yet been confirmed by both the MCPO and the LLCPO, Gillamac said.

Inspector Stephen Amamag-id, chief of Basak Police Station of the MCPO, where Taneo is assigned, and who is also heading the investigation, described the policeman as responsible.

“He is responsible for the arrest of several hold-uppers in Mandaue City. He is a warrant server (of Basak Police Station),” Gillamac said.

Taneo is temporarily detained at the Basak Police Station detention cell.

Meanwhile, a case for attempted homicide will be filed today against the suspect who allegedly shot four civilians during a shootout which transpired during a benefit dance last Saturday evening in barangay Candaguit, Sibonga.

Police Officer 3 Anthony Sanchez, Naga police investigator said, they will be filing the case at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office against 27-year-old Felito Campana, of Tungkil, Minglanilla town.

Cebu Provincial Police Office director Patrocinio Comendador directed CPPO legal counsel Chief Insp. Julius Ompad to assist the Sibonga police in the filing of the case.

“So far mao ra na ang gihatag nga directive ni PD, to assist them kung unsay kuwang in filing the case,” Ompad said.

Campana reportedly shot Jefferd Sarda, 25, Ricky Llanos, 37, and a 13-year-old boy when he and PO2 Elrey Brady Alegado engaged in a shootout.

Sarda was hit in the chest, Llanos in his hip, and the boy in his leg. The victims were primarily rushed to Carcar District Hospital but later transferred to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center. All are now out of danger.

Campana, who was wounded in his right thigh, was later traced to the same hospital.

Alegado, a member of the Regional Public Safety Battalion and PO3 Nicholas Abapo of Sibonga Police Station rushed to a basketball court, where the benefit dance was held, to pacify a fight between young men.

Alegado alleged that he saw Campana pull out a gun and shoot at them which prompted them to seek cover and return fire.

Ompad said Alegado, who lives near the place, was just doing his job as a policeman and immediately responded to the fight.

“He lives adjacent to the area and he was off-duty when it happened but since people asked for assistance so he responded,” the legal counsel said. –/BRP (FREEMAN)