BACOLOD CITY – A police officer is facing criminal charges for physical injuries in relation to violation of Republic Act 7610 or Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act after he was accused of injuring two minors over a misunderstanding here last week.
The complaint was filed against Police Staff Sgt. Harry Gonzaga before the City Prosecutor’s Office here on Monday, July 17, according to Police Capt. Judesses Catalogo, spokesperson of the Negros Occidental police.
The case stemmed from a misunderstanding between Gonzaga and two boys aged 12 and 13 in Barangay 30 here on July 10.
Based on police investigation, the minors were playing when a stone hit Gonzaga’s car that was parked in the area.
Gonzaga got mad and hurt the two minors as alleged by the victims when they reported the incident to Police Station 6.
A video showing a man believed to be Gonzaga hurting two kids went viral on social media. The incident even reached Sen. Raffy Tulfo when the kids’ guardians reported it through the senator’s online and radio program.
The case was initially handled by the barangay chairman in an attempt to settle the dispute of both parties on the barangay level but the guardians were determined to press charges against the 40-year-old cop.
Catalogo said that Gonzaga has been relieved from the 1st Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company based in Silay City because he is currently on in-house schooling for the public safety juniorship course at the satellite office of Regional Training Center (RTC)-6 in Murcia, Negros Occidental.
He is now under the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU)-6 in Iloilo City, he added.