Cop in hot water for ‘hitting’ boy

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch (PIDMB) has found probable cause to administratively charge PO1 Raymund Romarez of grave misconduct for allegedly punching 14-year-old boy last May in Minglanilla town.

Investigation conducted by case evaluator PO3 Michael Garrero Magallon showed that punching the boy in the waistline for being discourteous does not justify  Romarez’s act and that he should be held liable administratively.

Romarez lives in Minglanilla but is assigned in Naga Police Station.

The complainant alleged he was in a volleyball court at noontime when his father asked him to watch over his motorcycle.

The boy saw a bag placed on a bread container in the motorcycle.

The boy tried to return the bag to a staff of the Visayas Electric Company thinking he owned it.

But Romarez’s wife, Libeth, grabbed the bag and claimed that the boy was a thief because the P1,200 cash in the bag was missing.

At around 6 p.m., Romarez approached the boy at the volleyball court and threw a barbecue stick at him and punched him twice that resulted in contusions.

Romarez explained that he knows how to handle situation involving children in conflict with the law as he is a law enforcer.

He further said he only reprimanded the boy but he allegedly ran and was discourteous.

Magallon found out that Romarez had a grudge against the boy who was accused by Libeth of stealing her P1,200 cash.

The case was already elevated to the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 as the administrative case filed against Romarez is beyond the disciplinary jurisdiction of the Cebu Provincial Police Office.

Romarez will be relieved from his post and had to report to CPPO pending summary hearing of the case. — (FREEMAN)