Cebu folk wonder if PNP can’t cope with roque cops

CEBU — The recent rash of violence involving policemen has raised concerns about the mental make-up of men in uniform, particularly about their attitude toward violence.

Recent acts of violence involving policemen here tend to trigger questions as to whether the Philippine National Police conducts a psychological aptitude test to determine the prospective policeman’s propensity for violence.

Or whether the police has taught cops to be violent during their training upon joining the service; or whether it provides a coping mechanism to policemen who may be already psychologically affected by the day-to-day violence that they are exposed to.

But regional police chief Avelino Razon does not agree that there is an alarming rash of violence involving cops, arguing that there are only a few errant policemen in the service now and that the so-called "mad cop" disease is neither a trend nor alarming.

"Yung errant policemen, a small number lang yan. Plus we are weeding them out of our ranks," Razon said.

But consider the following:

• PO3 Engelberto Durano reportedly killed tricycle driver Rogelio Bacalso in Busay last Dec. 22, then allegedly ordered the killing of the lone 16-year-old witness to the crime last month.

• Retired policeman and Consolacion councilor bet SPO4 Gamalier Navarro allegedly settled an argument by shooting and killing neighbor Dennis Castillo last March, with whom he had butted heads with during a basketball game a month earlier.

• SPO4 Gino Pepito of the Compostela police shot his wife in the mouth and chest after she woke him up with a punch inside their house in Barangay Jugan, Consolacion last March 18.

• Irked over the prospect of spending a night on the road, PO2 Arnulfo Reglamos pulled out a gun and allegedly shot barangay tanod Efren Romo and fishpond caretaker Pablo Roble in Catmon, after the two failed to look for a passenger jeepney that would take the police officer to the city.

There are also lesser-known cases of violence involving cops, among them:

• PO2 Catalino Ricablanca of the Barili police, accused of plotting the murder of his wife during a brownout late last year. He was also accused of keeping a paramour and committing acts of lasciviousness against a female police officer.

• Tabuelan policeman PO3 Pablo Tiempo, who is facing physical injury charges after he allegedly pistol-whipped a medicine vendor along Manalili street last January.

• A Mandaue policeman was accused of trying to kill a couple several times over the past few years allegedly due to a grudge over stolen chickens. — Freeman News Service