Tuesday, October 17, 2006 2 cops accuse Mandaue officer of harassment
TWO policewomen on their field training program at the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) have filed a sexual harassment complaint at the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas against a former officer of the Mandaue City traffic division.
PO1 Riza Amigo, 28, and PO1 Lecil Mazo, 29, both from Police Regional Office (PRO) 11, claimed they were insulted over a police officer’s acts committed last month.
Sun.Star Cebu is withholding his name pending his comment.
While on duty at the MCPO headquarters around 8 p.m. last Sept. 15, Amigo and Mazo were told to report to the policeman, who was designated officer of the day.
They talked for a while but after noticing that the respondent smelled of liquor, they asked to leave so they could return to their post.
Advances
He refused and asked them if they didn’t like to talk with him. He then asked Mazo to stand in front of a mirror and told her she had goiter. He started touching her neck and shoulder as he guided her in turning left and right.
They went out of the office only when he also went out.
A few hours later, the same police officer approached Mazo, squeezed her shoulder and said she could go to his office at the traffic division where he will be staying.
After that, he also squeezed Amigo’s shoulder and asked if she were married and how many kids she has.
Last Sept. 20, the policewomen and the police inspector appeared before Senior Insp. Nicandro Seno and SPO1 Marissa Basiga where he asked for forgiveness.
The respondent reportedly opted to settle the case by offering Mazo and Amigo money.
Insulted
The two, however, refused, saying they felt insulted over the incident.
They later filed a complaint before the Internal Affairs Service of MCPO.
Last Oct. 10, the police inspector allegedly forced Amigo and Mazo to sign an affidavit of desistance but they refused to do so.
The incident prompted MCPO director Eduardo Catabas to recommend the officer’s transfer to PRO 7.
The police inspector had stayed for only two months at the MCPO prior to the incident.
Catabas said it is the first time for a case like this to occur at the MCPO under his watch.
He said he recommended the transfer of the policeman so he wouldn’t be able to influence the investigation of the case.
Catabas added that with the filing of the complaint before the Ombudsman, the policewomen will be pursuing the case even after their training program in Mandaue ends. (AAG)
