2 men jailed for cursing, insulting, spitting on cops

CEBU, Philippines- Two men who are believed to be “gays” looking for customers are now behind bars after they allegedly insulted and cursed policemen who confronted them following a complaint by tourists whom they kept on following.

One of the suspects had to be brought to the hospital after he injured his shoulder as a result of a scuffle when they resisted arrest.

Chief Inspector Wildemar Tiu, Fuente Police Station chief, said PO1 Berlino Ricafort and PO1 Ariel Nuñeza were on beat patrol at Gen. Arcadio Maxilom Avenue in Barangay Kamputhaw around 10 p.m. when foreigners approached and complained against the suspects who allegedly kept on trailing them.

 Tiu identified the two as Jurevel Simeni, 18, of Iligan City; and Vivencio Rocamora, 20, of Barangay Luz, Cebu City.

Acting on the complaint, Ricafort and Nuñeza then warned the two men, who ignored the policemen and continued on pestering the foreigners.

That prompted the two policemen to again approach Semini and Rocamora and tell them to leave the area.

At this point, Simeni allegedly shouted at the police, uttered “buang ang mga pulis sa Cebu City,” and spat on the faces of Ricafort and Nuñeza.

When the two policemen handcuffed Simeni, he resisted arrest and struggled with them. Rocamora then grabbed Semini and tried to pull him away from the policemen.

During the commotion, Simeni fell down the road and allegedly fractured his shoulder, prompting the police officers to immediately bring him to Cebu City Medical Center for medical attention.

Tiu said that he already called the attention of the known commercial sexe workers in the area and warned them not to “intercept” foreigners and other people to avoid facing a complaint.

“I’m very strict on that nga anybody who intercept a foreign national we have to prevent that, to eliminate crime happening outside Mango (Avenue, old name of Maxilom Avenue). Ilang sakyan ang taxi nya monaog sa unahan nya nanguot na diay, o sa hotel mangigo,” Tiu said.

He said he also gave Simeni and Rocamora a lecture on human trafficking as “eye opener.”

He said Simeni was unaware of the law and learned that the Mindanao resident came to Cebu only about a week ago and immediately went to Maxilom Avenue to look for customers.

Simeni, Tiu said, did not even have a single centavo with him the police chief ended up shouldering the arrested suspect’s medical expenses.

For what they did, Simeni would be charged with direct assault, and resistance and disobedience to a person in authority, while Rocamora would be facing an additional obstruction of justice complaint.  (FREEMAN)