Four cops in hot water for fighting at party

CEBU, Philippines —  Four personnel of Mabolo Police Station in Cebu City are in hot water for reportedly creating a commotion in Barangay Tayud, Consolacion Thursday evening.

Police Chief Inspector Gerard Ace Pelare, Consolacion police chief, told The FREEMAN that their station received a report from a concerned citizen regarding police officers who allegedly had a fistfight in the residence of Police Officer 2 Marlon Cabado.

Personnel of the Consolacion Police Station immediately responded to the alarm and found Police Officer 3 Joel Pedoche Vergara who was under the influence of liquor when they arrived at the area.

Vergara reportedly told the responding policemen that he was punched by his fellow police officers who were nowhere to be found in the area when the Consolacion policemen arrived.

"Based sa iyang allegation nga gisukmag kuno siya sa iyang kauban (police). Wala ra man sila'y na-commit nga crime hinuon kay sila-sila ra man. Gikuha ra siya dayon sa Mabolo police," said Pelare.

Mabolo Police Chief Clark Ariola said they will be conducting a thorough investigation regarding the incident involving his four police personnel.

Ariola said that Police Officer 1 Fernan Omolon, Police Officer 2 Alfred Talaboc and Vergara went to the residence of Cabado for the house blessing.

After having a drinking spree, the four policemen allegedly had a heated argument which resulted into a fistfight.

"Nag-inum inum daw ni sila niya adunay wala pagkasinabot. Dili usa ko modetalye sa rason kay gipa-explain pa nako sila. Once madawat nako ilang explanation, naa natay concrete nga estorya makahimo ta og conclusion," said Ariola.

"Police Station 4 will conduct a thorough investigation para ma-address nato ang problema sa atong mga kapulisan, mahatagan nato sila og appropriate nga action, administrative case," he added.

Ariola however clarified that there are only two police officers who were involved in the incident, Vergara and Cabado.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Joel Doria has also directed an investigation on the four police officers.

"They are police officers, bakit sila nag-behave ng ganoon? Hindi iyan excuse na maghanap ng away," Doria said. —GAN (FREEMAN)