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Friday, July 18, 2008
Cops should have detained Oro councilor: official
By Annabelle L. Ricalde
CAGAYAN DE ORO -- Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy Director General Jesus Verzosa said local police should have detained Councilor Alden Bacal after he reported the vehicular accident that killed 15-year-old Junrie Balingit last July 10.
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"Automatic na ganyan sana ang gawin ng police, dapat tingnan (It is supposed to be an automatic action, it should be looked into) if they follow proper procedure," Verzosa told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
Verzosa said traffic cops assigned at the Road and Traffic Administration will be investigated for "procedural lapses" in handling the Bacal case.
Verzosa, the second top-man of the PNP, was in Cagayan de Oro on Thursday for a visit.
"There will be negligence kung hindi sila nag-file ng complaint at ma-question din ang pulis na nag-investigate sa kaso (if they did not file a complaint and the police who investigated the case can be questioned)," he said.
Verzosa said Senior Police Officer 1 Rogelio Borromeo of Cagayan de Oro City Police Office's traffic division should be made to explain the outcome of his investigation on the vehicular accident.
Borromeo has avoided interviews by reporters since the incident happened.
Policemen in Carmen station should also be investigated why they did not subject Bacal to a liquor test to determine if the councilor was driving under the influence of alcohol, Verzosa said.
City Police Director Isagani Genabe Jr., in a TV interview, said they are investigating Chief Inspector Dexter Paje, chief of the Carmen Police Station, on the release of Bacal.
Under the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, the police should have filed the crime of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide against Bacal.
Driving under the influence of alcohol and not tending to the victims are listed us aggravating circumstances that would have meted Bacal, if found guilty, the maximum imprisonment of six years.
The parents of Junrie have decided last Wednesday not to press charges against Bacal, according to their lawyer, James Judith.
Verzosa said this development would weaken the case against Bacal.
"Mas mabuti na sana kung nandiyan ang complainant at naka file ang kaso. Mas mabigat pag interesado ang complainant (It would have been better if there is a complainant because the case will be stronger)," he said.
Bacal, who have taken a vacation leave and have reportedly left Cagayan de Oro, told dxIF Bombo Radyo that he had "a few drinks" before the accident happened but insisted he was not drunk.
The councilor said he had a medical certificate to prove he was not drunk.
He also said it was not him who bumped the teener but it was the teener who hit his Toyota Revo as he passed a slow-moving motorela in Daong, Barangay Carmen.
Local news organizations have taken a keen interest on the outcome of the case against Bacal, a former news anchor of ABS-CBN TV Patrol, before he was elected to office. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (July 18, 2008 issue)
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