Two arrested for hitting cops

CEBU, Philippines - Two people, including a woman, were arrested in separate incidents for hitting police officers last week.

Benjamin Mendez, 51, of Poblacion, Oslob, and Bodevilla Arañas, 44, of Sitio Abuno, Barangay Tunghaan, Minglanilla will be facing criminal complaints for direct assault.

Mendez was arrested Thursday night at the Oslob Police Station after he allegedly punched Police Officer 1 Ramon Catubig in the head and challenged him to a fistfight.

Mendez went to the police station to report a relative whom he accused of making trouble.

The suspect was allegedly drunk and was very arrogant when interviewed by Catubig prompting the latter to just advise him to have his complaint recorded the next day because he was drunk.

“Hubog to siya, naa siyay gireklamo diri, tapos pagpangutana sa desk officer mora’g arrogante nanginsulto ini’g tubag… pangutan-on siya’g tarong taga-asa motubag lang siya’g insulto,” said PO1 Rolando Buquiran.

Mendez allegedly grabbed the police blotter and slammed on the table. He also started hitting and challenging the desk officer to a fistfight.

The other policemen in the station tried to pacify the suspect but he was already violent prompting them to arrest him.

“Sa gawas nag-wild siya og maayo sige og siyagit ipa-hubo ang armas sa among desk officer kay makigsinumbagay siya, sir,” Buquiran added.

Meanwhile, Arañas was also arrested in Minglanilla after she slapped twice in the face Police Officer 3 Eduardo Librando.

The incident happened inside the police station where the suspect came to help her sister who was a subject of the operation of Librando.

The victim is a member of the Task Force Market who had operation against Arañas’ sister, Veronica Fernandez.

The suspect is now detained at the Minglanilla Police Station while waiting for the filing of the criminal complaint for direct assault before the prosecutor’s office. —/FPL (FREEMAN)