A MEMBER of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) in Talisay City is facing administrative charges for allegedly mauling and pointing his gun at a junkshop worker on Monday.
PO1 Carl Sebial was relieved from his post yesterday pending investigation conducted by the Talisay City Police Office.
He was also stripped of his service firearm upon the order of Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, deputy regional director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), to whom the complainant, Crisologo Magdalones, approached for help.
“We don’t condone any police officer who commits any wrongdoing. We will conduct an investigation so that justice will be served,” Lawas told reporters.
“If we won’t do anything, erring policemen will continue what they are doing. Let us help stop the abuses made by policemen,” he added. Sebial refused to give statement to the media.
Accompanied by his mother, Magdalones first sought assistance from radio dyHP, which brought him to PRO-7.
Magdalones, 32, and a resident of Barangay Sudlon 1, Cebu City, was driving his motorcycle when he accidentally bumped the motorcycle driven by Sebial in one of the roads in Barangay Lagtang, Talisay City. He alleged that Sebial was drunk when the incident happened.
“Hinay ra man unta akong dagan, pero nikalit man og babag ang iyang (Sebial) motor sa akong giagian. Nabanggaan gyud nako siya (I was driving too slowly, but Sebial’s motorcycle suddenly blocked my way. I hit him),” Magdalones said.
An angry Sebial, who was wearing a SWAT uniform, allegedly approached Magdalones and pointed a gun at the complainant’s stomach.
“Pwerte nakong hadloka. Nagkurog gud ko. Dili na ko makatingog. Gisampalong pa gyud ko niya (I was so afraid. I was trembling, and I could barely speak. He slapped me on the face),” Magdalones said. He said Sebial got his driver’s license as well as his motorcycle’s registration.