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Thursday, January 19, 2006
Police office used as motel?
By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
THE chief of police of E.B. Magalona town in northern Negros is in "hot water" for allegedly doing immoral acts while inside his office.
At least 12 town residents claimed that Senior Inspector Santiago Rapiz, the town's police chief, is using his office like a motel when he brought his "mistresses" there.
Rapiz, however, only laughed at the allegations.
In a telephone interview Wednesday night, he said those who filed the complaint have an axe to grind against him, he being an enforcer of the law and the complaints being on the other side of the fence.
"These are nonsense complaints. I am implementing the law and they are violators," he said without giving details.
Senior Supt. Charles Calima Jr., provincial police director, on the other hand, challenged the complainants to substantiate their complaints against Rapiz.
He said though that he will look into the matter, especially on the accusation of immorality.
Aside from the alleged immoral acts, the complainants, whose names appeared on a two-page complaint-affidavit furnished to Sun.Star, also accused Rapiz of graft and corruption and human rights violations.
They also asked Calima, EB Magalona Mayor Alfonso Gamboa, Vice Mayor David Albert Lacson and the members of the Municipal Council to immediately relieve Rapiz from his office for giving a "bad example" to the town's folks.
Rapiz, according to them had mauled two young boys from Barangays Gahit and Tabigue.
The victims sustained severe injuries. One of them even allegedly was declared critical at a hospital and almost died because of the mauling.
This is aside from allegedly threatening a woman in Barangay Manta-angan after conducting a raid on illegal drugs.
The police chief also allegedly relieved all policemen who originated from the town, thus causing demoralization among the ranks.
Furthermore, Rapiz allegedly harassed people, especially those who are engaged in drinking sprees inside the public market, by conducting body search even without a search warrant.
The complaint also pointed to the several criminal and administrative complaints against the police officer.
These include cases for unlawful arrest, arbitrary detention, perjury, falsification, dishonesty, oppression, gross misconduct and abuse of authority.
Also, Rapiz reportedly uses the town's money in gassing his car.
"I don't want to dignify those accusations against me. All are nonsense," Rapiz replied.
He added that he already know who are the people behind the complaint-affidavit, adding that his detractors' desire is simply to get rid of him.
This complaint, he said, has already reached the attention of Mayor Gamboa but the latter reportedly laughed it off.
He said his fate simply rely on the final decision of the mayor and Calima.
Sun.Star tried but failed to contact Mayor Gamboa for his comments.
Calima on the other hand acknowledged in receiving the complaint-affidavit last week.
"But I told the complainants to legitimize their complaints against Rapiz because if they will only make baseless accusations, then I would have to defend my policeman," Calima said.
He added that if this is only a smear campaign, then it would be ironic, considering that the EB Magalona Police Office, under Rapiz's administration, has been rated No.1 in the entire province for four consecutive quarters in 2005.
"My only appeal to the complainants is to present their proofs. If these allegations are true my office is more than willing to take the necessary action," the provincial director said.
(January 19, 2006 issue)
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