Cop ‘extorts’ money, ‘mauls’ PUJ dispatcher

CEBU, Philippines - A policeman is in hot water after a jeepney passenger reported him for allegedly extorting money from fellow dispatchers and for mauling him when he refused to give P20, Saturday along M.J. Cuenco Avenue, Cebu City.

Police Officer 1 Jerome Sollano of Mabolo Police Station allegedly also threatened complainant Eduard Decina, 30, after the latter reported both incidents to the police station.

Senior Police Officer 4 Reolito Jacalan of the same station said Decina alleged that at around 10 a.m. last Saturday, he was at M.J. Cuenco with other jeepney dispatchers when Sollano allegedly approached to collect P20 from each of them.

Decina allegedly refused to give, prompting Sollano to punch and kick him.

Decina went to the police station at around 12 p.m. and reported the incident. He and Sollano were allegedly settled by a police officer on duty.

However, Jacalan said, when Decina went out of the police station, Sollano, who was allegedly waiting for him outside, threatened him.

“Dili na ko gusto makakita sa imong dagway. Maypa hiposon na lang tika kay basa ka’g baba,” Sollano’s words allegedly to Decina, based on the records in the police blotter.

Senior Inspector Peter Hartzel Bellido, the station chief, said Sollano was previously assigned at the Traffic Patrol Group and was reassigned at Mabolo Police Station for barely a week yet.

Bellido said he will summon Sollano and Decina today to know what really happened. He said he also wanted to know if Decina wants to file charges against the police officer as he is open to facilitating in the filing of charges.

Should the dispatcher pursue in filing charges, Sollano will possibly face cases of threat and physical injury.

Superintendent Aileen Recla, chief of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Cebu City Police Office, said they will be waiting for Decina to come to their office over the matter for the possible filing of administrative charges against Sollano.

If proven true that the police officer extorted money from jeepney dispatchers, he might face a case for grave misconduct which is tantamount to dismissal from service, said Recla. — (FREEMAN)