By Jel Santos
An Intelligence unit rookie cop was relieved on Wednesday after he conducted an “unauthorized surveillance” inside the condominium unit of an Iranian dentist in Pasig City.
Senior Supt. Joel Bernabe Balba, Eastern Police District (EPD) director, ordered the relief of Police Officer 1 Reymar Taccad Galsim pending probe. He is assigned at the EPD-District Intelligence Unit headed by Supt. Henrix Mangaldan.
Eastern Police District (logo courtesy of Eastern Police District React Facebook/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Galsim was charged with unjust vexation on Tuesday at the Pasig City Prosecutors’ Office filed by Dr. Zahra Kazmi, 50.
Investigation showed around 11 a.m. on August 2, the cop went to the unit of Kazmi located at the Pacific Place Condominium on Pearl Drive, Ortigas Center in Barangay San Antonio, Pasig.
Kazmi, in her sworn statement, said the cop arrived at the lobby and introduced himself as a member EPD Intelligence to Security Officer Allan Monticalvo. Then, he showed a text message that the car with plate number (TIB- 428) registered to the victim’s son, Babak Pour Mohammad, which was sent by her husband one identified only as Bahman was allegedly placed under police “surveillance”.
The cop reportedly left his cellphone number to Monticalvo and ordered to report to him regarding the under “surveillance” vehicle.
It was learned that the victim and her husband has pending case of violation of RA 9262 or Violence Against Women and Children Act at the Pasig Regional Trial Court branch 261 filed on 2012 while Child Support case under Branch 159.
The complainant suspects that the rookie cop was “used” by her husband as a private investigator to conduct “surveillance” against her on the accusations that she was having an affair with another man.
According to Balba, the investigation will determine if PO1 Galsim acted based upon the order of his superior or he acted on his own capacity.
Mangaldan said that he did not order Galsim to put the Iranian under surveillance.
“If proven by pieces of evidence that he violated, the PNP will not tolerate such. He will face administrative consequences. The PNP is serious in cleaning and disciplining its ranks,” Balba said.