Napolcom backs cop accused of hitting Comelec employee

The National Police Commission is backing up a police officer who was accused of beating up an employee of the Commission on Elections after he was accidentally hit with a bamboo stick used in ripping off illegally posted campaign materials.

Napolcom-7 regional director Homer Mariano Cabaral said they will definitely file a counter charge against Robert Gasola if he presses charges against PO2 Armando Parot.

Gasola went to the Waterfront Police Station last Friday morning to complain against Parot. According to Garsola, Parot punched his face when he and some Comelec volunteers accidentally hit him with a bamboo stick while they were taking off illegally posted campaign materials.

Parot also reported the same incident and vehemently denied the accusation.

Gasola alleged that they were at MJ Cuenco Avenue in Barangay San Roque, Cebu City when Parot, driving a motorcycle, passed by them. The policeman was accidentally hit on the head with the bamboo stick.

 Parot alighted from his motorcycle, approached Gasola and punched him on the face. Gasola accused Parot of being partisan.

Parot denied the accusation saying that he only asked the group to be more careful but instead of being sorry for what had happened Gasola was very arrogant prompting a verbal altercation between the two of them.

Cabaral said they would not have wanted to make a big issue out of the incident but if Gasola plans to file charges against Parot, the Napolcom will also file a case for direct assault against him.

The Napolcom official vouched for Parot saying the latter is not favoring any candidate contrary to Gasola’s claim.

He said that Parot confronted Gasola and his group because he was really hurt on the head and not because he was against the taking off of the illegally posted campaign materials. — Niña G. Sumacot/FPL