Cop sued for hitting poll volunteer

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Election has filed a complaint before the Office of the City Prosecutor against a policeman who allegedly punched one of the election volunteer workers after he was hit in the face with a campaign material that the volunteer was taking out.

The Comelec filed a complaint for violation of the Comelec Resolution No.8714 or the Election Gun Ban against PO2 Armand Parot, who was allegedly in civilian clothes and was carrying a firearm during the incident.

Atty. Enerio Ocariza, the regional election attorney of the Comelec, has included the complaint affidavit of the victim, Robert Garsula, joint affidavit of witnesses, joint affidavit of the police escorts, the police blotter and the medical certification of Garsula.

In Garsula’s affidavit, he stated that at around 10 a.m. last April 16, they were on M.J. Cuenco Avenue removing illegally posted campaign materials.

While doing so, Garsula said that a policeman in civilian attire approached him and suddenly punched his right eye. When other policemen, who were assisting the volunteers in the campaign against illegal posters, saw the incident, they allegedly tried to apprehend Parot but they apologized when they learned that he is also a police officer.

Parot, despite not wearing his uniform, was said to be carrying a gun placed in his right waist. He is detailed with the National Police Commission.

Garsula said that they came to know of the policeman’s identity when in the afternoon of that day, SPO1 Darryl Alalim of the Waterfront Police Station went to their office and told them that a policeman requested for a police blotter claiming that he was assaulted by a volunteer worker from the Comelec.

Parot reportedly requested for a possible amicable settlement.

Affidavits of witnesses who were also from the Comelec said that Parot was seen wearing a police badge hanged in his neck.

The witnesses, Wenifredo Jaducana, Reynaldo Demape and Perpito Lastimado Jr. stated that it was Demape who took out a poster in an electric post which was carried away by a strong wind and accidentally hit Parot, who was driving his motorcycle. This allegedly provoked the policeman to punch Garsula.   (FREEMAN NEWS)