Argao police under probe over ‘refusal’ to entertain complaint

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu Police Provincial Office (CCPO) will investigate the accusation that police in Argao, south Cebu allegedly refused to cater to the complaint of a couple who was caught in conflict with a police officer.

In a Facebook post, a citizen claimed that they were first caught in a road accident with a police officer whose rank is 'colonel' last January 20, 2022.

According to her post, the truck that her husband is driving bumped into the vehicle of the said ‘colonel.’ This triggered an argument between the two that resulted in his husband being “punched” by the police official.

"Paghuman sa hitabo ginaog dayon sa akong bana kay tan.awn niya ang sakyanan ug unsay na damage ug pag naog niya,ninaog pud ang COLONEL ug nagdala sa iyang armas..Nakuyawan akong bana,syempre armas na gud," the post read.

"Kay wala dayon munaog akong bana ilang gisaka ug gibira,pwerting hilaka sa akong mga anak nga nakakita nga gibira ilang papa ug niana ko nga ayaw na ninyo anaa sir! pag abot sa ubos gisumbag akong bana sa COLONEL ug maoy hinungdan nga nasamad iyang nawng..Dili lang sumbag ang naangkon sa akong bana kay sakit man iyang kilid ug iyang atubangan kay naay laing pulis nga kauban ang COLONEL nga nidapat pud niya," the post further read.

However, when they decided to file an official complaint against the colonel in Argao Police Station, the station allegedly refused to cater.

Police Lt. Colonel Mark Gifter Sucalit, Deputy Provincial Director for Operations of CPPO, said no formal complaint has been lodged for the accusations of mauling, aside from the post on social media.

“We will check either tinuod na siya, walay tay formal report nga naabot sa atong headquarters nga naay such incident,ang nakuha ra nato nga information kato rang post sa social media," said Sucalit.

He, however, added that a traffic incident has reached their office but none was reported on the alleged punching.

"Kung naay allegation nga ing-ana nga wa ma entertain sa kapulisan ang concern or ang yangungo, ato gyud na i-check kay part man na sa atong service ang mu cater sa request," said Saculit.

The Argao police, for their part, released a statement on January 26, debunking the accusations.

The statement said that the supposed complainant left to pick up a delivery of construction materials right after he was provided with an incident report form to sign. They added that they also prepared a letter requesting a medical examination.

"Argao Municipal police station reached out to and contacted the employer of (complainant) to further pursue in lodging a complaint but as of this time, Argao PNP is still waiting for the complainants to show up," their statement read.

Sucalit assured fair investigation into the matter.

"Sa stand namo sa PNP, we are all fair sa all parties and to whatever na mga incidents, mao na ang SOP namo," said Sucalit. — KQD (FREEMAN)