Papua New Guinean leaves Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - The foreign student who was allegedly mauled by two policemen early this week left the country yesterday to “relax and unwind” in Papua New Guinea.

Lawyer Fritz Lastimoso said his 29-year-old client, Bennidict Penini departed at 5:30 a.m. yesterday. He will discuss the incident with his parents and decide on the next move they will take.

Contrary to earlier reports, Lastimoso said they have not filed a case before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) as Penini has yet to issue an affidavit.

Lastimosa said his client claimed that he forgot everything when sought for details for the affidavit.

Lastimosa was at the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) yesterday.

He was supposed to meet with CCPO director Melvin Ramon Buenafe but decided to leave as Buenafe was still having a command conference with his men.

Buenafe, in an interview, said they welcome it if Penini’s camp will arrange for an amicable settlement of the case.

But even if the settlement will push through, the administrative case of Tanza and Lavandero will continue.

On the other hand, Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol said Penini can file a complaint before the Military Ombudsman and Other Law Enforcement Offices (MOLEO) against the two SWAT officers.

MOLEO will conduct a preliminary investigation and the two officers will be given an opportunity to file their counter affidavit.

He added MOLEO will determine if the acts of Lavandero and Tanza in applying “tolerable force” against Penini was reasonable.

Last Tuesday, Penini was charged with resistance and disobedience to an agent of a person in authority and posted P2,000 bail for his temporary liberty.

The release order was signed by Judge Rosabella Tormis.

Penini arrived in Cebu in June this year to study Information Technology (IT) in one of Cebu City’s universities. He temporarily lived at Alicia Tower in Barangay Banilad.

On September 9, at 11:30 a.m. Lavandero and Tanza responded to an alarm because Penini allegedly went wild and threw stones at some bystanders in the area.

The two officers subdued Penini and allegedly mauled and hit him with a butt of an armalite rifle.

This was caught on video by a news team who went there to cover the alarm.  (FREEMAN)