Further probe ordered on Samboan police chief who went "wild"

CEBU, Philippines - If investigation merits, sanctions will be imposed on the Police Chief Inspector Audie Pelayo of the Samboan police who allegedly went wild in the town last Saturday afternoon and had a fist fight with one of his men, Police Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Erson Digal said yesterday.

In an interview over dySS, Digal said Pelayo will be made to face further investigation. The fight reportedly resulted to a minor damage on the Innova Patrol Car issued to the Samboan police.

Digal said he has ordered Senior Insp. Ruben Cuizon, head of the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch, to probe the incident, as reports surface that Pelayo’s men are “frightened” to testify against him.

Digal said he will personally speak with Pelayo’s men to know the real situation.

“Alangan og akong baby-hon…di ni siya angayang mag-opisyal kun ingon ana ang iyang kinaiya. Gipakatulog siya sa iyang mga sakop…he will suffer the consequences sa iyang gipakitang maayong laki,” Digal said.

Meanwhile, Cuizon said Pelayo had denied the incident, as well as PO2 Oscar Perater, chief of intelligence of the Samboan police and the one Pelayo allegedly engaged in a fistfight with.

However, Pelayo reportedly admitted that he had a couple of shots of liquor last Saturday when he went to sitio Kalin-ay, Barangay Poblacion for a feast.

Cuizon said Pelayo reportedly told him the story has been reversed, as it was a certain Junjun Carungay from another barangay who went wild in Sitio Kalin-ay and that he was the one who confronted Carungay.

Cuizon and his staff visited the place and interviewed some bystanders, but all reportedly denied that Pelayo had a fist fight with Perater.

“Wala man tay testigos didto sa lugar. Ang mga tindera wala man sila nakakita nga hubog ang hepe, lakip na ang mga sakop niini sa police station wala sab sila mag-away ug maayo ang ilang hepe,” Cuizon said.

Cuizon also clarified the report that the headlight of the Innova Patrol car was damaged.

Cuizon said it is possible that some people might just be angry with Pelayo and Perater because of their investigation on illegal drugs in the town. —THE FREEMAN