Policeman cleared of criminal raps

CEBU, Philippines - A police officer was exonerated from a string of criminal complaints filed by his three cousins for lack of evidence.

The Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office did not find sufficient evidence to warrant an indictment against SPO1 Walter Macasling on the complaints for grave threats, illegal discharge of firearm, and physical injuries.

The recommendation of assistant provincial prosecutor Jay Paradiang for the dismissal of the complaints was approved by provincial prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba.

“Wherefore, premises considered and for lack of evidence, the undersigned reiterates his recommendation to the Honorable Provincial Prosecutor to dismiss this complaint,” Paradiang’s resolution reads.

Inspector Henry Orbiso, on behalf of the private complainants— Jannel Dionaldo, Ramil Tigo, and Regie Tigo, all of Alcantara, Cebu, filed the complaints against Macasling.

The complainants claimed that on December 1, 2013 at around 6:30 p.m. they were having a Christmas caroling at the house of the respondent. However, Macasling got irked and told them to wait but returned with an M-16 rifle and fired it on the ground about two meters away from them.

The private complainants reported the matter before the Moalboal Police Station and underwent medical examination to support their complaints.

Macasling denied the accusations. He claimed that it was the complainants, who are his second degree cousins, who started the commotion.

“They began singing loudly songs for the dead and mocked the respondent (me) as well as some bystanders who were understandably offended by the acts of the complainants,” Macasling said.

He added that the complainants even challenged anybody around to a fistfight.

The respondent’s claim was later corroborated by two of the complainants who executed affidavit of desistance.

“Respondent’s version of the event substantiated by witness is made credible by the turnaround of two of the complainants. In his affidavit of desistance which the undersigned subscribed, complainant Dionaldo admitted and confirmed that he and the other complainants were already drunk when they arrived at the respondent’s house in Tunga, Moalboal, Cebu to sing some Christmas songs,” the resolution further states. (FREEMAN)