Friday, November 02, 2007 Councilor wants swift probe on incident involving ex-cop
CALLING it an embarrassment, a Cebu City official wants the incident involving a radio station manager and a retired policeman swiftly investigated.
City Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem also wants the police to ensure no similar incident will happen again.
“The City Government is very concerned about the incident, especially since we are known to have the safest, non-violent and most fun party places in the country, unlike Manila where fights and armed confrontations are common,” he said.
International
Another cause of irritation is that the incident followed immediately an MTV Philippines event, which had an international audience, he said.
Jakosalem said radio station manager Dodi Conejero has issued a statement to the police.
Eyewitnesses have also given their account on how Conejero was allegedly held at gunpoint by retired policeman Rico Palcuto last Monday.
Chief Supt. Ronald Roderos already ordered the Cebu City Police Office to look into an incident.
In a press conference last Wednesday, Roderos said the Cebu City Police Office is conducting an investigation.
Asiatown
The incident happened around 2 a.m. outside Loft, a popular bar inside the Asiatown IT Park in Barangay Lahug.
Palcuto, father of Presidential Anti-Smuggling Task Force chief Ariel Palcuto, was allegedly tossing tables while demanding for Renault Lao, the bar owner.
Conejero, manager of 101.9 Charlie FM and who was in the area for the MTV Philippines event held on the street right outside the bar, approached to pacify Palcuto. But he was told to get lost instead.
According to a witness, Palcuto left and came back in a car only to leave and come back again on the same vehicle but backed up by a few men.
The witness said Palcuto and his group went up the bar. And when Conejero again asked him what was wrong, the radio station manager was held at gunpoint.
A witness said a machine pistol was also drawn on somebody and cocked.
Ed Abad, Cebu chapter president of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, has condemned the incident. (KNR)
