Cops mauled by neighbors of gambling suspect

CEBU, Philippines - Two police officers were slightly injured after they were allegedly mauled by the neighbors of the illegal gambling suspect they tried to arrest in Barangay Mabolo last Tuesday night.

Police Officers 2 Felix Tuñacao and Roy Bacus, both assigned at the Mabolo Police Station, sustained minor scratches and bruises in their bodies after some 10 residents mauled them in defense of their neighbor, Ester Calamba.

SPO1 Junax Velez of the Mabolo Police said the two police officers were conducting illegal gambling operations in sitio Magtalisay when they reportedly spotted Calamba issuing tally sheets with suspected number combinations of the numbers game locally called “Masiao.”

Velez said PO2s Tuñacao and Bacus approached Calamba and was about to arrest her when the residents, who sympathized with Calamba who was just allegedly doing a living, blocked the two police officers.

Two of the persons who tried to prevent the two policemen from arresting Calamba were identified as Mauricio Maraba and Bobby Jumao-as.

The two cops called for back-up but the suspects were quick to flee and disappeared from the area.

The police officers were instead taken to the Cebu City Medical Center for medical treatment.

Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, who heads the City Intelligence Branch, said the two police officers observed maximum tolerance in handling the residents, but they should have pre-empted the mauling incident and called for back-up much earlier.

The Mabolo Police are seeking the help of the barangay for the arrest of the suspects. —/MIT (FREEMAN)