‘Rogue cop’ in trouble

A MEMBER of the Philippine National Police (PNP) is in hot waters following the complaint of a pump attendant of a gasoline station in the city.

Senior Police Officer 2 Fernando Laspoña of Police Station 4 in Carmen said that Elmar Aldamar, 24, of Purok 5 South Poblacion in Maramag, Bukidnon lodged a complaint against a policeman belonging to the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) identified only as Bagaipo.

Aldmar, according to Laspoña, is working as a pump attendant of a gasoline station located along Ilaya, Barangay Carmen who reported to the police station that he was allegedly punched by Bagaipo without any reason.

The incident happened last Wednesday around 3:20 p.m. in the said gasoline station.

Based on Aldamar’s statement to the police, Bagaipo went to the gasoline station asking him to have his P200 bill converted to coins.

“But he told the police to have his bill changed to other stores since the station lacked coins that time,” Laspoña told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

To Aldamar’s surprise, Bagaipo hit him in the head as he left from the gasoline station and after a few minutes, returned on board his vehicle and allegedly threatened the victim saying “I will shoot you.”

According to the complainant, he just ignored the statement of Bagaipo but the police went out of his vehicle, approached him and hit him in the face.

The case is now referred at Cocpo’s Internal Affairs Service to determine whether or not Bagaipo is still an active Cocpo member following reports that he was applying for retirement.

“There are many new policemen with the last name Bagaipo but the only veteran Bagaipo policeman has the first name Florencio. We don’t know if he’s the one,” Laspoña added.