Cop in ‘wheel of torture’ arrested for shooting

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna , Philippines   â€“ A Laguna policeman, who along with 10 colleagues was tagged in the so-called “wheel of torture” controversy, was arrested for a shooting incident in a bar that left two persons seriously wounded in Sta. Rosa City early yesterday morning.

PO2 Mateo Cailo gave himself up to his fellow police officers after a hot pursuit operation at the Regional Personnel Holding Center at this police camp at around 3 a.m., said PO2 Nieva Contreras.

Cailo and nine other Laguna policemen are facing administrative charges for allegedly torturing inmates at a police holding facility in Biñan City last month.

The group kept what has been dubbed as a “wheel of torture” which listed the different kinds of physical violence an inmate would suffer.

The 10 policemen, who are under restrictive custody, attended the first hearing last week on the administrative charges filed against them.

Aside from closed-circuit television footage, Contreras said Cailo was positively identified as one of those involved in the shooting by the two victims, Aldrin Hicana, 21, and Ranny Raquino, 27.

Contreras said Hicana sustained gunshot wounds in the head, while Raquino was hit in the body. The two were brought to the provincial hospital in Sta. Rosa City.

Contreras said Cailo and his four companions had a verbal tussle with Hicana’s group inside the Code bar, leading to the shooting.

Contreras said Cailo immediately escaped with his service firearm after the incident.

Charges of frustrated murder are being readied against Cailo.