Valmoria: This would be the last incident

CEBU, Philippines - “This will be the last incident involving one of our personnel.”

Cebu Provincial Police Office director Carmelo Valmoria said yesterday after controversial policeman PO3 Joseph Glenn Burlas figured again in another trouble against a security guard at the Talisay City Hall.

Valmoria said that even if Burlas and security guard Gabriel Mayormita had already agreed to amicably settle the matter, his office would still initiate an administrative investigation against the erring police officer.

“This is not the first incident he met. In fact, he is right now in Tuburan that’s why we really try to find out what really happened,” said Valmoria.

Valmoria is hoping that Mayormita, who is working under Lancer Security Agency, would not execute an affidavit of desistance because this would only weaken the complaint.

“If you are a law enforcer you should be calm and obey the policy of the establishments you want to enter,” the CPPO chief said, referring to the actuation of Burlas when the security guard refused to let him make an exit at the entrance door of the city hall.

Reports said that last Tuesday morning, Burlas went to the Talisay City Hall to attend a court hearing at the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC).

According to the witnesses, Burlas got irked and threatened Mayormita after the latter refused to allow him to get out of the city hall using the entrance door.

Burlas, who was in civilian attire, allegedly told Mayorita “Polis man ko,” and walked past him and intentionally hit the security guard in the shoulder.

Burlas immediately went to his car and came back with a gun in his waist to where Mayormita was standing and also holding his .38 caliber service firearm.

Visitors and city hall workers were alarmed by what they saw and scampered away for safety. But policemen from the nearby police station were quick to respond and appease the two.

Roger Villaver, chief of the city hall’s Civil Security Unit, defended Mayormita saying he is just implementing the rules issued by the city hall.

After discoveries of several lethal weapons being tried to be brought inside the city hall, the CSU has intensified its security by posting guards at each of its entrance and exit doors, he added.

Acting Talisay City police chief Henry Biñas said that while Burlas and Mayormita had already shook hands, Valmoria still wanted the incident investigated.

Burlas was demoted from the rank of SPO1 to PO3 after he figured in a number of alleged misdeeds and is now assigned in Tuburan for the same reason.

Just weeks after being transferred to Minglanilla Police Station December last year, Burlas was accused of harassing two tricycle drivers, whom he allegedly pointed a gun to and slapped one of them.

He allegedly irked when tricycle driver Allan Caballero tapped his car while he was moving out from a parking area of the church.

Burlas denied the accusation and Caballero refused to file a complaint against the police officer.

In February last year, while still assigned at the Talisay City Police Station, then police chief Romeo Perigo ordered for Burlas’ relief from the city’s traffic division following his rift with City Councilor Ben Abatayo, the city’s traffic commission vice chairman. —   Christopher Gabriel Bonjoc/WAB (THE FREEMAN)