Tanod faces raps for punching man

CEBU, Philippines - A criminal complaint was filed before the court against a barangay tanod of Barangay Tubod, Minglanilla for allegedly punching a resident in the nose during an inter-sitio basketball tournament.

The complainant, Diomedes Bolo, 33 of Sitio Sambag, a soft drink delivery man, was with his 10 year-old son at the basketball court on May 31 this year to watch the basketball tournament when he was punched by barangay tanod Rodney Abella.

While on their way to the basketball court after dinner, Bolo saw his friends and they decided to drink hard liquor near the venue.

A relatively small unofficial ball was being played by a child inside the court and this landed in their drinking location.

Bolo took the ball and threw it back to the court and said jokingly, “Oh, niarang bola oh! (Hey, here’s the ball!)”.

The official referee and Abella reportedly looked at Bolo. Abella pointed to Bolo and shouted, “Ayaw gud paghinubog diha! (Don’t act drunk!).” Bolo ignored the comment and continued with the drinking.

During the game’s time-out, Abella approached Bolo and grabbed by the collar then asked angrily, “Unsa man? Suko gyod ka nako? (What? are you really angry?).

He answered in vernacular that he was not mad but he was just having fun.

However Abella continued to hold Bolo by the collar and pushed him to the ground where the later was lost his balance.

When Bolo stood up and recovered his balance, he was allegedly punched hard by Abella in the nose resulting to the former became half-conscious and was brought directly to the Minglanilla District Hospital but was later referred to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

He was confined for a day and a half and incurred hospital bills worth P5, 000. (FREEMAN)