Thursday, August 14, 2008 Mandaue cop accused of beating up kids By Mia E. Abellana Sun.Star Staff Reporter
A MOTHER and her 11-year-old son are filing a complaint against a policeman who allegedly beat up the boy and accused him of stealing a carburetor from his truck.
The mother was at the Cebu City Police Office yesterday and told reporters that her son Ariel had to be hospitalized for five days because of the incident.
Her son and another boy were scavenging in Pier 4 when a policeman they identified as PO1 Monet Montenegro of the Mandaue City Police Office allegedly arrived with two boys in the afternoon of July 22.
The two then allegedly pointed to Ariel and a 10-year-old boy identified as Carlos as the ones who stole the carburetor of Montenegro’s truck, parked near his house in Barangay Tejero.
Ariel told reporters he did not steal it, saying he did not even know what it looked like and that he probably could not carry it.
Ariel’s mother Merlita said that Montenegro arrived, slapped Ariel five times and then bashed Ariel and Carlos’ heads together.
Seeing this, Merlita stood up and identified herself as the mother of Ariel. She alleged that Montenegro pointed a gun at her and told her she didn’t know how to discipline her son.
He also allegedly threatened to “salvage” her and throw her into a manhole if she continued to talk.
Merlita said that the policeman took them to a junk shop in Barangay Mabolo and confronted the owner to ask if the boys brought the carburetor there.
However, the owner said they do not buy car parts from children as a precaution, in case these are stolen.
Merlita said Ariel was so disturbed about the incident that he spent five days at the Cebu City Medical Center.
Merlita further claimed that the next day, Montenegro went to their house to threaten them against filing a complaint. She said he returned two days later to warn them against filing a charge against him.
Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador said they will file the criminal complaint but it was up to the Mandaue City Police Office to handle the administrative aspect of the case.
