Cop beat up by 3 men

MANILA, Philippines - A policeman was beaten up allegedly by three men in Quezon City before dawn Sunday.

Police Officer 2 Elmo Lazatin, 45, assigned to the Quezon City Police District Station 10, suffered injuries in the mouth following the incident at past 4 a.m. in Barangay Laging Handa, said QCPD director Senior Superintendent Richard Albano.

Lazatin’s superior, Station 10 commander Superintendent Marcelino Pedrozo Jr., identified the three men as Emmanuel Justiniani, 28, Danilo Jimenez, 52, and John Paul Regalado, 28.

Pedrozo said Lazatin was in a police car at the corner of Scout Rallos and Tomas Morato streets. Lazatin saw one of the three men taking his photo, prompting him to accost the latter. The men said it was on a whim.

One of the men allegedly punched Lazatin in the mouth. During the scuffle, the side mirror of the police car was damaged.

Another team responded to the scene and arrested the three men. A lawyer appeared at the station early in the morning and vowed to have the police car fixed and shoulder Lazatin’s medical expenses.

According to Pedrozo, they will only file charges of direct assault and damage to government property if the lawyer fails to fulfill his promise.