PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo (PNA photo by Lloyd Caliwan)
MANILA – The commander and five other officers of a police station in Cebu province were relieved of their posts over the alleged mauling of a criminology student.
The relieved personnel are assigned to the Marigondon Police Station in Lapu-Lapu City, according to Philippine National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo during a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City Tuesday.
Aside from the commander, also relieved were the chief clerk, a desk officer, an investigator and two other officers.
"The case is under probe as we speak and the victim is being asked for a statement for the filing of proper charges. The victim who was confined at a hospital named at least two police officers who maltreated him," Fajardo said.
According to a post by the victim’s family, the victim and the owner of the house, where he is working as a caretaker, went to the police station to report a robbery involving three suspects, a bicycle and a chainsaw.
However, the victim was allegedly accused by the police to have stolen the items and made to kneel as police officers beat him up.
He was released after it was proven that he was innocent of the charges and taken to a hospital for treatment of the injuries he sustained from the mauling.
Colonel under custody for sexual harassment
In a related development, Fajardo said a colonel assigned to the Police Regional Officer-12 (Soccskargen) was placed under restrictive custody at the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit in Camp Crame after he was accused of sexually harassing a female officer.
“RIAS (Regional Internal Affairs Service) 12 already took cognizance of this case, and according to the regional director, to dissuade any notion that there might be a whitewash, I understand a team from the NHQ (National Headquarters) would come to Region 12 to conduct a parallel investigation and talk to the victim," she said.
She said the police colonel may face charges for sexual harassment under Republic Act 7877 or the Anti-Sexual Harassment law, an existing civil service policy and the National Police Commission rules. (PNA)
