8-year jail term for cop who robbed, beat cabbie

MANILA, Philippines - A Pasig City policeman was sentenced to eight years in jail for robbing a taxi driver of P1,190 and beating him up 11 years ago.

In a six-page decision, Pasig regional trial court Judge Nicanor Manalo also ordered Police Officer 2 Jose Floralde Bacurin Jr. to indemnify his victim, Edgardo Malijan, the P1,190 he stole, plus interest.

Records show Malijan was waiting for a boat ride along E. Rodriguez Avenue in Barangay Manggahan to cross the Pasig River when two policemen - Bacurin and Arthur Castrense - accosted him on Jan. 22, 1999.

He testified that Bacurin pistol-whipped him and took his wallet – which held his driver’s license, Social Security System identification card, and P1,190 – before taking him to a nearby police station.

When he was released the next day without charges being filed against him, Malijan said he asked Bacurin for his wallet, but the policeman scolded him and threatened to lock him up longer if he persisted.

Upon the advise of his friends and co-workers, Malijan filed charges against Bacurin, but spared Castrense because the latter did not hurt him.

In his defense, Bacurin denied Malijan’s accusation and claimed he only escorted the taxi driver to the police station. He said he left the taxi driver with another policeman so he could return to assist in the re-routing of traffic in his area of jurisdiction.

Manalo gave credence to Malijan’s testimony since Bacurin failed to submit a counter-affidavit to refute the charges against him.