Cop denies hitting quarantine violator

CEBU, Philippines — The policeman accused of hitting a quarantine violator with a paddle after supposedly failing to pay fine for quarantine violation has denied the allegations during administrative investigation, according to Lt. Colonel Stephen Daang of the Investigative and Detective Management Branch (IDMB).

Daang said the cop was given the chance to explain after being issued a notice of complaint.

“Actually gi-deny niya nga siyay responsible ato, so right now, actually ang investigation report nato is already forwarded kang CD (City Director). Hopefully naabot na sa iyang table,” said Daang.

Daang said that based on their last conversation with the victim, the latter was still undecided as to whether he would press charges against the policeman.

Police, however, advised him of the necessary process to follow should he pursue the filing of criminal charges against the cop.

“I think ang biktima right now is in the process (of filing). Nag-gather na siya og documentary evidence, for example, katong sa medical certificate para sa ilang legal action against sa alleged officer na responsible,” said Daang.

The controversy arose when a netizen posted on social media that he was allegedly hit with a paddle by a cop assigned at the Carbon Police Station for failure to settle his administrative fine over a quarantine violation. The post was accompanied with a photo of a man with a bruised leg.

The results of the administrative investigation will be submitted to the Police Regional Office-7, which will be responsible for imposing sanctions, if any, on the cop.

Pending investigation, the subject cop was already relieved from his post and was reassigned in the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) headquarters.

“Naistorya man nato to siya (victim) and we told him na ang office nato is willing to facilitate, accommodate if ever willing na siya mo-file og legal actions kay basin kun wala siya kabalo sa process kay wala man nato ni gi-tolerate,” said Daang.

The victim has not been able to return to the CCPO. However, he stood firm that a certain “Sergeant Miranda” was the one who hit him with a paddle. — JMD (FREEMAN)