CEBU CITY – A police officer is facing criminal charges for allegedly assaulting members of a contingent that participated in the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo festival last Sunday, August 26, at the Cebu City Sports Center.
The suspect with the rank of police corporal was detained at the Guadalupe Police Station because of the incident on Saturday night, August 24.
Investigation showed that the suspect was among the police officers assigned to secure a contingent from Compostela town, Cebu billeted at the Guadalupe Elementary School.
Prior to the incident, members of the group were called to attend an orientation for some final instructions.
Police said some members arrived late and least nine of them were allegedly slapped by the policeman.
Major Miles Damoslog, chief of the Guadalupe Police Station, said that the policeman was asked by the organizers to help gather the dancers. Police described the dancers as hard-headed, said Damoslog.
“Supposedly, it was not his job as a policeman as he was assigned there to secure the contingent. He just gave in to the request to help gather the members and it was there that he struck the students. Accordingly, the dancers refused to obey the order, that's why he hit them,” said Damoslog.
Police Lt. Col. Janette Rafter, deputy city director for administration of the Cebu City Police Office, said the CCPO is ready to file charges against the policeman.
Rafter said they are still awaiting the complainants to complete their affidavits.
Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of Police Regional Office-Central Visayas chief Police Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin, said the PRO-7 will conduct its own administrative investigation against the policeman.
“The PRO-7 will not condone any violation of law committed especially by our police officers but of course we will also give him a chance to defend himself. We will hear his side of the story,” Pelare said.