American punches policeman, arrested

CEBU, Philippines - An American national was arrested after he punched a policeman in the face three times in Barangay Poblacion, Toledo City last Thursday night.

Police Officer 3 Celso Maquidato was responding to a trouble alarm allegedly created by American national Eduard Scott Lessor, 50, when the latter punched him in the face.

SPO4 Carmelito Hornales of Toledo City Police Station, in an interview, said a certain Jocelyn Marinay approached Maquidato who was roving at the Toledo City Terminal in sitio Lunay 1 around 8 p.m. last Thursday.

Marinay informed Maquidato that the foreigner was harassing the neighborhood in the sitio by chasing and punching them.

Lessor, a resident of Magsaysay Hills, Barangay Poblacion and married to a Filipina, was allegedly intoxicated at that time. Maquidato acted on the report and went to the area which was just some meters away.

Upon arriving at the area, he saw the suspect standing near a vulcanizing shop. Maquidato approached the foreigner and identified himself as a law enforcer. He then told Lessor to go home but the foreigner instead punched him thrice in the left side of his face.

But Maquidato managed to restrain the foreigner as the latter was already drunk. He was successful in taking Lessor to the police station and locked him up at the detention cell. He then went to a hospital to have his bruises treated.

Hornales said Lessor was able to post bail of P6,000 the following day.

The Toledo City Police will pursue charges for direct assault against the foreigner.  (FREEMAN)