Mob lynches cop mistaken for robber

A checkpoint police officer who was taking a suspect to the nearest police station for investigation was seriously injured after he was mistaken for a robber and ganged upon by bystanders in Malabon City yesterday.

Chief Inspector Romeo Odrada, city police investigation chief, said Police Officer 2 Efren Ohiman sustained bruises and contusions on various parts of his body. Ohiman was taken to the Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Medical Center in Caloocan City for treatment.

Ohiman’s cell phone, wallet with P4,200 and handcuffs were lost during the melee. The timely intervention of Barangay 14 watchmen prevented what could have led to more tragic consequences.

Records showed that Ohiman asked Cesar Aniceto, 34, to pull over at a police checkpoint on Lapu-lapu Avenue in Barangay Longos. Aniceto was riding a black Honda Wave with “For Registration” plates, for which he could not present pertinent documents and wore no protective headgear. This compelled Ohiman to take Aniceto to the nearest police precinct for further questioning.

Ohiman rode behind Aniceto on his motorcycle and instructed the suspect to proceed to the Malabon Police Community Precinct 3. Instead of heeding Ohiman, Aniceto drove at high speed towards a group of bystanders, shouting that he was being robbed.

The bystanders came to the suspect’s “rescue,” grabbing Ohiman and beating him up as he tried to identify himself as a police officer. Local watchmen saw the commotion, recognized Ohiman, and rescued him from the angry mob.

Aniceto has been put under arrest and detained at the police jail for robbery, disobedience to an agent in authority, and willful, malicious giving of false information.