Cop placed under camp restriction

SPO1 Arthur Sabang of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) was placed under camp restriction starting yesterday while an administrative investigation is conducted on him, the Police Regional Office (PRO-7) said.

Chief Supt. Prudencio Bañas, PRO-7 director, said this will give Sabang time to respond to a criminal complaint filed against him by Masbate Gov. Rizalina Seachon-Lanete and her son, Placer Mayor Joshua Judd Lanete.

Senior Supt. Conrad Capa, acting Cebu City police chief, said he will order Sabang’s temporary transfer from SWAT to their headquarters.

Sabang is accused by the Lanetes of brandishing his M16 rifle at them and insulting them as they tried to enter the gate of the Cebu City Sports Center during the Sinulog grand parade competition last Sunday.

Bañas said based on the information he gathered and the initial accounts of Sabang and Lanetes, the police officer committed security lapses despite his claim that he used the flashlight on his rifle because the area was dark at the time.

Apologize
Bañas said he understood how the Lanetes and members of their party felt when confronted by Sabang because they experienced being ambushed and had to be given issued security detail.

Bañas said he tried to approach the Lanetes to apologize on Sabang’s behalf.

For the next Sinulog celebration, Bañas said the Sinulog Foundation should put more lights in the corner of R.R. Landon and Osmeña Boulevard and to find ways to decongest the crowd in the area.

Bañas said he planned to double the number of police along the Sinulog route to better secure the crowd.

Ricky Ballesteros, executive director of the Sinulog Foundation Inc., said he met Governor Lanete, Rep. Scott Davies Lanete of Masbate’s 3rd district and Placer Mayor Lanete during the awarding ceremonies  last Monday but they didn’t mention the incident.

Shocked
“Na shock lang mi nga nakabasa na lang mi sa (I was shocked when I read the) newspaper,” he said.

Ballesteros said he never got the chance to speak with the Lanetes about the matter yesterday because they may have left Cebu.
Kulturang Placereño and Tribu Himag-ulaw of Placer, Masbate already left the city yesterday.

Placer dancers left via Bogo City and boarded a roro on their home while the Himag-ulaw dancers, most of whom are from Masbate City took a ship at the port of Cebu.

Ballesteros is confident that the two contingents will return to Cebu City for next year’s Sinulog grand parade.

He said Mayor Lanete instructed Kulturang Placereño choreographer Victor Cuenco to ensure a grand slam win next year.

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