Colonel accused of hitting guard

CEBU, Philippines - A high ranking police official in Central Visayas is facing criminal and administrative charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly hitting a port security and forcing a bunch of tickets into the latter’s mouth.

Perlito Ompad, 31, of Barangay Tejero Cebu City mailed his complaint to Ombudsman Manila yesterday against Sr. Supt. Orlando Ualat.

Ompad said he was on duty in Pier 1 as port security in the evening of October 24 when he flagged down Ualat’s vehicle as a matter of procedure. Ompad said he politely asked Ualat for a ticket before his vehicle could be allowed to enter the port.

Instead of giving the ticket, Ualat allegedly introduced himself as a police officer. According to Ompad, he persisted to ask the ticket as a matter of procedure in the port.

But, Ualat allegedly got irked and told him, “Daghan ba nimo pangutana nga nagpaila naman ang tawo.”

Ompad said Ualat started raising his voice but was pacified by his woman passenger who gave him the ticket he was demanding. According to Ompad, he reached for the ticket but accidentally bumped Ualat’s hand, which irked the official even more.

Ualat drove his car inside the port without waiting for his confirmation and went back at him few minutes later after his guest has boarded a ship bound for Mindanao.

Ompad said that when Ualat returned, the latter demanded for his security license which he also obliged. However, the official did not anymore return his license and even forced a bunch of tickets into his mouth.

“Ang terminal fee ticket nga iyang gi-dala ang iyang gi-hungit sa akong baba,” Ompad said.

Ompad’s fellow guard tried to pacify Ualat but the latter persisted prompting them to call the port police. It was only then that Ualat allegedly stopped and drove his car out of the port area bringing his security guard license.

Ompad said the Firearms, Explosive, Security Agency and Guards Supervisory Section ordered him to report the following day where he met Ualat in the office of Supt. Rex Derilo.

Ompad said that in front of Derilo he was hit by Ualat in the stomach. “Gi-sumbag ko sa tiyan atubangan ni Derilo,” he said.

Derilo allegedly asked him to apologize to Ualat but he refused because he did not commit any wrong doing against the police official. Ualat was not available yesterday when reached for comment.–(FREEMAN)