Cop mulls suing dried fish vendor

CEBU, Philippines - The policeman assigned in Minglanilla town who was accused of soliciting money is planning to file counter charges against the dried fish vendor who complained against him last week.

SPO1 Renato Masangcay, Minglanilla police investigator, said he is planning to file a libel case against Loreto Sanchez, 50, of Barangay Calajo-an, after he was mistakenly identified as the one who asked for money from the fish vendor.

Masangcay and Sanchez met yesterday morning at the Provincial Investigation Detection and Management Branch to discuss the said complaint and to identify the other two policemen who were also present during the operation.

The two were identified as PO2 George Campomanes and PO2 Nikki Carlo Plarisan.

However, Plarisan and Campomanes remained silent on the issue.

Last April 26, Sanchez complained before the PIDMB after Masangcay allegedly asked for P2,000 from him in exchange for the release of his motorcycle.

Sanchez narrated that he parked his “tangkal-tangkal”, a tricycle modified to transport livestock, on the roadside when it was confiscated by the policemen. He even reiterated that there was no “No Parking” sign in the area.

But Masangcay said Sanchez actually left his improperly-parked motorcycle at the public market in Barangay Poblacion and it caused road congestion.

“Tuod dunay ni-parking uban sa lugar pero wa dakpi kay nakasibat na man nagpadung pa lang mi unya unsaon pagsibat niya nga wa man siya diha, (There were others who parked there but we weren’t able to apprehend them because they managed to leave while we were approaching. Sanchez wasn’t able to elude us because he was not there.) ” Masangcay said.

Sanchez added that when he wanted to retrieve his motorcycle, a policeman asked him to pay P2,000 first but since he could only afford P500, the policeman agreed.

Masangcay said he never asked for money from drivers. He added there could be someone, but he was sure it was not him.

The police investigator said he met Sanchez last week and confronted him about the reports but Sanchez already denied saying he was referring to another cop.

“Ako lang iyang nailhan pero dili gyud kuno ako pero klaruhon ko ni kay ako ma’y napasanginlan, (He said he only knew me and that I was not the one he was referring to but I’m clarifying this because I was the one he accused.)” he said.

Masangcay said he will clear his name because the incident also bothered his family.  (FREEMAN)