Cop says SPEED team mauled him

CEBU, Philippines - An off-duty policemen sustained bruises in his face after he was allegedly mauled by members of the Squatter Prevention Encroachment Elimination Division last Monday evening.

PO1 Darwin Melodia, 34 of Gevaran Hills, Nivel Hills, Barangay Lahug, alleged that a team from SPEED mauled him without proper reason. He is currently assigned at the Tuburan Police Station.

Melodia said he was just sitting at a waiting shed after drinking with four friends at around 11 p.m.

“Naglingkod ko sa wating shed after ako gi-una og hatod akong laing upat ka kauban og ni abot ang SPEED og nanggukod sa mga vendor og sigarilyo. Ni tan-aw ra gyud ko,” he said.

After the operation, one of the SPEED personnel sat beside him and Melodia asked why they were only confiscating the vendor’s goods and not apprehending the vendors themselves.

The man allegedly answered calmly that this was as far as their mandate allowed them to do

Moments later, another woman joined their conversation and asked other questions regarding the operation, then another man from the SPEED allegedly joined them.

“Naa’y misulod nga taas og buhok og mi-apil sa estorya namo og mi-ana nga kon naa mo’y reklamo, ngadto mo sa opisina, reklamo mo sa mayor,” said Melodia.

After the encounter, the rest of the group allegedly surrounded the lone police man blocking his way.

Melodia tried to escape by hailing a taxi but the team allegedly stopped him. 

“Wala gyud ko nangita og gubot, mi-lantaw lang gyud ko sa dakop,” he said.

But his efforts failed and the group started to punch him in the face.

“Gikalitan ko’g sumbag una sa akong tangkugo apan unya gi-sundan nako’g kulata sa nawong sa uban,” he said.

But SPEED Division head Noel Artes said his members beat up the policeman only after he yelled at them, then harassed and threatened them.

He said the argument started when the said policeman yelled and questioned the group why they were not arresting the cigarette vendors.

“‘Nganong manakop man mo dira, kung manakop mo apilag dakop ang mamaligyaay og sigarilyo’,” Artes quoted Melodia as saying.

 Artes said the police also threatened the life of one of his members which triggered the mauling.

“Nag-wild man gani to siya while nagsakay mi og mobile padulong sa Fuente police” Artes said.

Artes is planning to file a criminal case especially after one of his men was threatened to be killed by the policeman. As of yesterday afternoon, Melodia was still detained at the Fuente Police Station. – (FREEMAN)