Wednesday, September 19, 2007 Rams ABS-CBN vehicle, attacks TV cameraman, faces preventive suspension
A MANDAUE City police official, who was reportedly under the influence of liquor, rammed his car into a vehicle of a television station and attacked the news crew past Tuesday midnight.
Senior Insp. Jose Liddawa, Subangdaku police station chief, was driving his Hyundai sedan when the vehicle veered off the lane and collided with the Nissan Frontier of ABS-CBN that was headed for Cebu City.
The incident happened near Super Metro Mandaue in Barangay Maguikay.
After the collision, both Liddawa and the TV crew got out of their vehicles. An argument then ensued, which resulted in Liddawa allegedly boxing cameraman Joel Noel.
Liddawa had a confrontation with reporter Ramil Paican and punched Noel in the face.
The incident took place just as the Cebu media are celebrating Press Freedom Week.
An ABS-CBN footage aired during its late afternoon newscast TV Patrol Central Visayas showed Liddawa cursing and telling the news crew that he was a policeman.
‘Pulis ako’
Paican, who was in the pickup together with cameraman Allan Almendras and driver Samuel Trangia, said they tried to pacify Liddawa. The police officer, however, kept on shouting “pulis ako.”
Noel suffered bruised lips. Liddawa fell on the ground and lost consciousness.
The TV crew later took Liddawa to a private hospital in Cebu City, where he is still confined.
Except for a swollen left eye, Liddawa said there was no damage in his internal organs.
Liddawa admitted he was drunk and welcomed any investigation on him. He said he did not remember what happened. He also denied having domestic problems, which could have triggered the outburst.
Liddawa, of Kalinga, Apayao, said yesterday’s incident was his first.
The Philippine National Police Academy graduate also said he will accept any penalty imposed on him.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Chief of Staff Arnulfo Perez ordered newly installed Acting Mandaue City Police Office Director Rodel Calungsod to act on the incident involving Liddawa.
Calungsod, in a radio interview, said he will place Liddawa under camp restriction and subject him to a pre-charge investigation.
“It’s his first day in office and an unfortunate event happens, he has to act on it decisively,” Perez told reporters.
Suspension
He also ordered Calungsod to put Liddawa under preventive suspension and relieve him from his post immediately.
If Calungsod’s initial findings show that the penalty is not within the power of the city director, he should elevate it to higher headquarters.
Perez has also ordered Supt. Verena Ramos of the PNP Health Services to check on Liddawa’s condition after he was admitted to a hospital due to the injuries he incurred as a result of the accident.
There were reports that Liddawa had personal problems, which was why he was drunk.
“We will review the background, why that instant attitude came out that moment. But despite his personal problems he should act as an officer and a gentleman. That’s what we are trained for—stability under pressure,” Perez said.
Perez said that Liddawa has not been involved in previous infractions, adding that most of his colleagues were shocked when they learned he was involved in such an incident.
Perez hopes the incident will not be seen as a reflection of the police organization, saying in any organization there are members who “deviate” from policies.
He expects all police officers of the PRO 7 to learn from the incident and not follow what Liddawa did.
Mandaue City Vice Mayor Carlo Pontico Fortuna, who is chairman of the committee on police, fire and penology, said Liddawa’s relief and investigation are the right things to do.
Fortuna said it was unfortunate that the incident happened during Broadcaster’s Month and Press Freedom Week, as he assured that the city will not condone any acts of violence against any member of the press.
“We assure members of the media that Mandaue is media-friendly,” said Fortuna. (OCP/MEA)
