5 cops in hot water

CEBU, Philippines — Five cops in Cebu are in hot water, four of whom have been relieved from post for allegedly beating up two fraternity members in Lapu-Lapu City dawn on Saturday while one other surrendered for shooting at a man he was playing cards with in Dalaguete town Sunday dawn.

“Gipa-imbestigahan na nako sa akong investigator… naa na koy order niini nga akong ipa-relieve, akong gibalhin diri sa admin holding (I have ordered for na investigation and for their relief),” said Lapu-Lapu City Police chief Carlito Baja.

The alleged incident happened outside the concert grounds of Rocketfest ’19. This was captured in a video that was posted online.

Yesterday morning, a concerned citizen posted a message online, saying that the fraternity members were only bringing food to the staff of the event but were accused of being violent.

“The people beaten by the police were only bringing food to eat for their staff, and was randomly accused of violence in the area,” the message reads.

“Plus, the money in the bag with 50,000.00php which was meant to pay for the sound system and bands that played (were) only left with 12,000.00php,” the message reads further.

The message also called on netizens to share the video as the person who posted the video first was reportedly threatened.

A sister of one of the fraternity members told The Freeman that the cops might have thought that the two were among those who mauled an elderly man that night when, in fact, the fraternity members were the ones who helped the old man.

She said the cops mauled and kicked her brother and his friend several times. They also allegedly ran after her brother, pushed his face to the ground, and hit his face with a gun.

“Gibira, gikulata, then gipatid-patiran… dayon akong maguwang gigukod pa jud nila… ilang gibukbok akong maguwang, ilang ginud-nod ang nawong, ingon pa nila nga ‘gi, hapaka ug pistola ang iyang nawong,’ mao tung lagom kaayo nawong sa akong magulang (They pulled, mauled, and kicked them… they also ran after my brother… hit him on his back, pushed his face to the ground, and hit his face with a gun… that’s why his face is bruised heavily),” she said.

After that, the cops arrested the two and detained them for a day. The fraternity members posted bail yesterday.

Shooting

Meanwhile, a cop identified as Police Staff Sargent Mario Cartuaciano who is assigned at the Cebu City Police Office, surrendered to authorities for allegedly shooting at a certain Bobeth Delposo, 30, in Barangay Langkas, Dalaguete.

Delposo was able to dodge the bullets.

Police Corporal Rex Pelonio of the Dalaguete Police told The Freeman that the two men were playing cards at the wake in Barangay Langkas. However, Cartuaciano was drinking liquor at the same time and Delposo did not like the way the cop was talking, prompting him to stop playing.

Cartuaciano did not like that Delposo stopped playing and pulled his gun out. Delposo ran away but Cartuaciano chased and shot him. Luckily, Delposo dodged the bullets.

Geovanie Maines, officer-in-charge of the Cebu City Police Office, said that upon hearing about the incident, he immediately instructed Cartuaciano’s chief at the Waterfront Police Station to convince the cop to surrender.

Cartuciano eventually did and was turned over to the Dalaguete Police Station – his badge, identification card, and firearm have been confiscated.

“We will be filing an administrative case against him,” Maines said, even without an official complaint from Delposo.

Cartuciano will be facing a possible frustrated murder charge and may be dismissed from service, depending on the result of the investigation. (FREEMAN)