Call center agent accuses tanods of illegally arresting, mauling him

CEBU, Philippines - A call center agent has accused three tanods of barangay San Antonio of forcibly bringing him to the barangay hall dawn yesterday for alleged vagrancy and for allegedly mauling him when he refused to answer questions. 

The family of Adam Absalon, 25, a resident of Urgello Street in barangay Sambag 1, said they will file charges against chief tanod Ferdinand Mante, Maarni Saavedra and Jude Desuyo.

Absalon alleged he was walking along RR Landon Street towards an internet café when two tanods on board a motorcycle stopped near him and told him that they were apprehending him.

Absalon said the tanods reportedly got irked when he asked why he was being arrested, more so when he told them that his father is a policeman.

He alleged that one of the tanods held his arm while the other one gripped a gun tucked in his waist while calling for another tanod nearby.

Absalon said it was only later at the barangay hall that he learned he was being arrested for alleged vagrancy.

When he insisted that he was merely heading to the internet café, one of the three tanods allegedly hit his stomach with his knee while another allegedly whipped him when he refused to answer the questions of the barangay secretary who was putting his statement on record.

Later, he was allegedly detained at the detention cell of the barangay hall and was subsequently turned over to the Pari-an Police Station.

Absalon said he sustained bruises on his arms and stomach. He identified one of the tanods as Saavedra whom he described as having the “most ill personality.”

When his mother Josie arrived later, the tanods allegedly badmouthed her and told her that she did not discipline her son well enough.

Sensing that her explanations proved futile with the tanods, Josie sought the assistance of the Police Regional Office 7. The Mobile Patrol Group then checked on the case. 

Samson Bragat, another tanod of barangay San Antonio, told The FREEMAN that Mante and Saavedra were the ones who approached Absalon on the road. Another tanod, Jude Desuyo, was the one who provided back-up.

Bragat said that the tanods reportedly arrested Absalon because they became suspicious of him wandering around Sesame Street, Junquera Street, Pelaez Street, and then at Don Pedro Cui Street.

“Ga-roving amo chief tanod. Nasugatan daw na siya sa Sesame St. pero wa lang dakpa. Nya kay nasugatan na man sad siya sa Pelaez St. paingon Don Pedro Cui, so suspicious na iyang lihok. Uso baya kaayo ang kawat-kawat diri dapita, so gi-invite nila for questioning ‘nya kay mi-resist man, arogante pa g’yud ‘nya dako na kaayo tingog, mao ‘to gi-pwersa na lang siya ug dala sa barangay hall,” Bragat said.

Bragat said Absalon reportedly sustained the injuries when the tanods held his arm when they forcibly took him, but insisted that Absalon was not hurt at the barangay hall.

Bragat said they detained Absalon for safekeeping following a recent incident wherein Bragat himself was shot by a man they took inside the barangay hall for questioning.

Bragat said his fellow tanods found Absalon arrogant and was allegedly fond of insulting them. His mother also reportedly kept on bragging that her husband is a colonel.

Absalon was released 10 am yesterday after a councilman of barangay Sawang Calero facilitated his release. — Niña G. Sumacot/JMO(FREEMAN NEWS)