Two policemen from Daanbantayan town, northern Cebu were relieved from their posts after being accused of mauling a defenseless man who took shelter in the police station on All Saints’ Day.
PO3 Raymon Pepito and PO3 Alex Ricarte were both reportedly under the influence of liquor when the incident happened.
They face criminal and administrative charges for abuse of authority, grave misconduct and physical injuries, said Senior Supt. Noel Gillamac, head of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO).
The incident happened last November 1, according to a report from Senior Insp. Roger Quijano, chief of the Daanbantayan police.
The complainant, Romeo Toring, a 56-year-old resident of barangay Bitoon, Daanbantayan, said he went to the police station and asked Quijano to be allowed to spend the night there because he was too drunk to go home.
Later, Pepito and Ricarte arrived at the station.
Both had been drinking.
When the two policemen saw Toring in the police station, they asked the civilian to leave.
Toring explained that he already sought permission from the station chief to stay there overnight.
The two policemen got irked and beat him up.
Because of the incident, the two policemen were transferred to the San Remigio Police Station.
“The CPPO does not tolerate this kind of policemen. If proven that this really happened, they should be dismissed from service so that other officers will not follow them,” Gillamac said.