Cops said to favor Aussie in mauling

CEBU, Philippines - A town police chief and three other policemen are facing administrative charges for allegedly unjustly favoring an Australian who was accused of violating Republic Act 9262 or violence against women and children.

Moalboal police chief Insp. Rogelio Amoroso is facing charges for arbitrary detention along with PO2s Rommel Gak and Benedicto Rubia and PO1 Eric Bongbong.

This after complainant, Romeo Ejercito, a member of the Military Intelligence Group of the Intelligence Service Armed Forces of the Philippines and Nestor Cordora and Marife Gargar were unreasonably detained at the police stockade.

Aside from that Amoroso faces other charges for malicious prosecution and unlawful arrest.

In his complaint, Ejercito said that he and Cordora assisted Gargar in filing for a petition for a Barangay Protection Order before Basdiot barangay captain Cerilo Tapales.

Gargar was allegedly maltreated and mauled by her common-law husband Scott Andrew Parsons on October 29, 2011. This prompted her to file charges for violation of RA 9262 against him in court.

Last January 2 when the order of the barangay captain was delivered to Parsons in Basdiot he allegedly became furious and went to the police station and informed Amoroso that Gargar, Cordora and Ejercito robbed him.

The complaint further stated that Amoroso then ordered his men to arrest Gargar and whoever her companions may be.

Ejercito narrated that while at the police station they saw Parsons seated in the investigation room seemingly relaxed and at home as his left foot was resting on the table and he was dressed casually in a dirty sando and a pair of shorts.

An altercation then ensued between Ejercito and Parsons that was interrupted by Amoroso, but at the end the police chief still detained Ejercito.

The next day Ejercito was released after charges against him for usurpation of authority were dismissed by the court.

Gargar and Cordora were also released after Gargar promised to withdraw her complaint against Parsons.

Ejercito further claimed that Amoroso failed to return his black bag containing an issued .38 cal. revolver with five live rounds and P150,000 in cash which was taken from the house of Josefina Gargar, the mother of Marife when they were arrested.

Amoroso denied the accusations against him saying that Ejercito’s allegations have no basis.

“Way basehan kay panimawos lang nang iya kay gidakop na tungod sa usurpation nga kaso for using an expired ID,” Amoroso said.

He also denied favoring Parsons and failing to return the firearm as well as the cash.

“Di na tinuod kay wa mi mag-search so dili illegal search igo ra na gipakita sa inahan ni Marife, wa ko mahadlok andam ko nang atubangon,” he said.

He alleged it was Josefina who called for police assistance upon learning there was a revolver inside the bag.

A preliminary investigation of the case will be held before the National Police Commission on February 16. (FREEMAN)