Man indicted for assaulting cop

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office has indicted a man for assaulting a police officer in Poro town three months ago.

Prosecutor Maria Luisa Ong found probable cause to hold Francisco Lucernas for trial for violation of Article 148 of the Revised Penal Code, otherwise known as the law on direct assault upon an agent of person in authority.

Police Officer 1 Rod Lubas Villamor accused Lucernas of attacking him with a bolo while responding to an alarm in barangay Eastern Poblacion around 7 p.m. on April 13.

Villamor said he received calls for assistance from several residents in the barangay because of a person threatening them with a bolo. Villamor, in complete police uniform, responded to the call and found the accused brandishing his bolo.

Villamor said he introduced himself as a policeman and requested the accused to put down his bolo. However, Lucernas started attacking Villamor, prompting the latter to fire a warning shot.

Lucernas reportedly refused to heed the warning, forcing the policeman to shoot him hitting his right foot. It was only then that the accused was arrested.

Ong said elements of the crime for direct assault are present that would warrant the filing of the case in court. — Fred P. Languido/LPM (THE FREEMAN)