Ranking cop faces raps for harassing witness

A ranking police official is now in hot water for allegedly mauling and harassing a witness in a recent shooting to death of a laborer by a rookie policeman in Caloocan City.

Gilbert Valerio, 23, of Isla San Juan, Maypajo, Caloocan City, filed charges of grave threats and physical injuries against Inspector Freddie Cacliong, head of the Northern Police District-Provisional Patrol Unit (NPD-PPU) based in Maypajo Market, Maypajo, Caloocan City.

Last Thursday, Valerio went to the Northern Police District Press Corps (NPDPC) office at NPD Compound, Kaunlaran Village, Caloocan City, seeking help from reporters claiming PPU operatives are harassing him for witnessing against another PPU member, a certain PO1 Jeremiah Soley.

In a complaint filed with the office of NPD-Internal Affairs Service (IAS) chief Superintendent Lazaro Lim, Valerio said that last Dec. 28, at around 10 p.m., he was mauled by Cacliong inside the PPU barracks in Maypajo. This reportedly resulted in the wounding of his back.

A medico-legal certificate issued by the Ospital ng Caloocan dated Jan. 28, showed an old inflicted wound on Valerio’s back. According to Valerio, Cacliong got irritated of him after he stood witness against Soley, who is facing charges for shooting dead one Jairus Bastistiana last Dec. 17 at around 3 a.m. in front of the PPU barracks in Maypajo Market. Valerio added that at about 9 p.m. last Wednesday, Cacliong again approached him and warned not to testify against Soley or something might happen to him.

"Huwag akong tetestigo o may paglalagyan sa akin. (I don’t have to testify or something might happen to me)," Valerio said.

Accompanied by NPDPC members last Thursday, Valerio, with Bastistiana’s surviving kin, went to Lim’s office where Cacliong aboard a six-by-six truck reportedly followed them with at least eight of his men. Lim, however, advised them to leave Valerio alone and just answer the charges in the proper forum.

"Cacliong denied the charges and said that it was only a coincidence that they met with Valerio in my office for they came with different purposes and not to harass the complainant," Lim said.

Lim assured his office will conduct a thorough investigation of the case saying he will not allow the isolated case to tarnish the good image of the NPD which is a top aspirant for the best police district award-national level, set to be announced Thursday, the 11th Philippine National Police anniversary.

NPD was adjudged best police district-national level for the last two consecutive years, in 1999 and 2000.