Brothers fight cops, arrested

CEBU, Philippines - After resisting arrest and challenging policemen into a fistfight, two brothers, who allegedly extracted sand illegally, were eventually arrested Saturday in Barangay Suba, Samboan, Cebu.

Niko Tulod Encarquez, 18, and his elder brother Ryan Encarquez Tulod, 22, (their father allegedly committed a mistake in writing Ryan’s name in the baptismal at birth) were arrested by Samboan Police for direct assault and violation of the municipal ordinance for illegally extracting sand.

Prior to the incident, the police received a report about a group of persons allegedly getting sand at the shore, promo-ting Police Officer 3 Johnny Marquiño and PO1s Serge Hiramis and Jason John Hiramis to respond.

Upon arrival at the area, PO1 John Hiramis approached the siblings and asked them to show a permit for extracting sand, but the two failed to show any.

The police officer reportedly reprimanded the brothers and told them to stop what they were doing, but instead of heeding, the two got mad at him.

“Gi-ingnan na man hinoon ang atong kauban sir nga ‘salig ka nga polis? Hambogero kaayo mo! Nganong badlong-badlong man ka?’” Samboan Police desk officer PO2 Ressel Jabagat narrated.

PO1 John Hiramis tried to pacify the siblings, but Encarquez allegedly choked him, prompting the two other police officers to intervene.

Upon seeing the two policemen approach to help PO1 John Hiramis, Tulod joined the fray and even challenged them to a fistfight.  Neighbors who witnessed the commotion tried to help the suspects, but hesitated when told by the police not to interfere.

The siblings were eventually subdued by the police offi-cers and were brought to the police station including the eight sacks of sand. Each sack could allegedly be sold for P1,200.

At the police station, the two allegedly did not show any remorse for what they did and even said their house was just nearby.  But upon learning that they will be taken to the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, the brothers allegedly kept quiet.

“Ingon pa sila nga okey ra daw kay naa ra man sila sa Samboan, pero pag-ingon nako nga ma-adto man mo sa CPDRC, nagool intawon, sir,” Jabagat added.

The suspects allegedly started to appeal to the police officers but the latter have decided to file charges against them. — Bryner L. Diaz/NSA (FREEMAN)