Saturday, August 02, 2008 Cop tagged killer By Mia E. Abellana Sun.Star Staff Reporter
FOUR police officers are now under investigation after two men were allegedly beaten up inside the Ronda town police station. One of those beaten up died four days later.
Ronda Mayor Esteban Sia visited the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) yesterday to complain against PO1 Christian Peñafiel for allegedly beating up Donnie Noel and his son Russell last Friday.
Peñafiel was relieved right away from the Provincial Mobile Group (PMG) to the Provincial Security and Service Group at the CPPO headquarters.
Sia told reporters that police received a report that Russell was drunk and brandishing a firearm. But when police arrived, he was asleep in his house.
When they learned the police were looking for Russell, he and his father, Donnie, proceeded to the police station.
Sia was told that the two saw Peñafiel and PO1 Leo Susvilla of the Special Reaction Unit drinking while playing a game of mahjong outside the police station.
As Russell entered the police station, Peñafiel allegedly followed and then suddenly began beating him up. Donnie tried to stop him but the policeman allegedly turned his ire on Donnie and punched him hard.
Four days later, Donnie died.
Sia said he knew the family, who owned a vulcanizing shop in the town.
Sia also alleged that Insp. Allan Rosario of the SRU and SPO1 Bertuldo Mansueto of the Ronda Police Station were present during the beating.
CPPO Director Carmelo Valmoria said he learned about the incident only on Thursday, when Sia ran into Supt. Anthony Bagarinao and mentioned it to him.
Valmoria said he directed Bagarinao to check the report. While Sia mostly pointed to Peñafiel, he said all police officers who were present during the beating will be included in the investigation. He also wants to find out why no report was submitted to his office.
Valmoria admitted that when the police station was still headed by Insp. Juan Casipong, he received a complaint that police officers were playing mahjong in the police station.
He said he called Casipong’s attention and until yesterday, had not received a complaint.
“It has to be supported by an affidavit. Mahjong is not tolerated in the police station,” he said.
While Sia said he was planning to bring the family to the Office of the Ombudsman to file a complaint against Peñafiel, Valmoria said they will still conduct their own investigation.
“Both sides have to be heard to get an accurate picture of what happened,” he said.
The PMG and SRU have been deployed to Ronda to check on armed men who allegedly roam the mountains of the town.
Sia, for his part, said the family will submit Donnie’s body for an autopsy to find out if Peñafiel’s blows caused his death.
He explained that Donnie was in perfect health before he got punched.
It was only after four days that they noticed Donnie’s jaw was bruised because of the punches.
