Cop denies punching septuagenarian

The policeman who was accused of punching a 78-year-old man inside Ronda Police Station that allegedly caused the victim’s death has denied the accusations against him.

In a preparatory inquiry initiated by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) regional director Bernardo Calibo to all those present and involved during the incident, PO1 Christian Penafiel denied hurting 78-year-old Donnie Noel last July 24, 2008.

Donnie was accompanying his son, Russel Noel, 33, who was a subject of an armed person alarm raised earlier that day.

Ronda  Mayor  Esteban Sia said that Penafiel, a policeman assigned at the Provincial Mobile Group, and PO1 Leo Susvilla, a member of the Special Reaction Unit (SRU) entered Ronda police station where Russel was being questioned by PO1 Benedicto Rubia and without provocation, beat up Russel.

Sia said he was told that both Penafiel and Susvilla were both drunk as they were earlier seen drinking near the police station.

When Donnie tried to intervene, Peñafiel allegedly punched the old man hitting him on the right jaw, an accusation that was denied by the policeman.

Penafiel also denied beating the drunken Russel, saying he just tried to pacify the latter because he was already unruly while he was being investigated by Inspector Allan Rosario.

Calibo said the investigation will deal on the three issues raised by the Noel family —the punching incident, falsification and tampering of the police blotter entry, and the issue that Peñafiel was drunk when the incident happened.—  Ferliza C. Contratista/WAB