Police deny maltreatment of woman caught with gun

CEBU, Philippines - A town police chief accused of maltreating a woman arrested for illegal possession of firearm has denied the charges filed against him and seven other policemen before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

Sibonga Police Station chief Senior Inspector Rolando Antipolo said there is no truth to the accusations hurled by Susana Jimenez, 48, against him and his men.

Jimenez accused Antipolo, Senior Police Officer 1 Bernard Otida, Police Officer 3 Fernando Fernan, Police Officer 3 Roque Senarillos III, Police Officer 1 Ronald Mugot, Police Officer 1 Teofanes Monceda, Police Officer 1 Akil Mangontra, all of Sibonga Police Station, and Inspector Alvino Enguito of the Regional Public Safety Battalion-7, of abuse of authority, violation of domicile, incriminating innocent persons, and serious physical injuries.

Jimenez said the policemen hit her with the butt of an M16 rifle, dragged her into the detention cell, and planted evidence against her.

Antipolo told The FREEMAN that the allegations were not true and he has evidence to prove it.

 “Naa tay medical certificate, naa tay cctv footage nga makapamatuod kun unsay tinuod ug unsay bakak nga makapamatuod nga wala siya kulataha,” Antipolo said.

Antipolo and his men, assisted by the members of the Regional Public Safety Battalion-7, went to serve a warrant of arrest for murder against Jimenez’s son, Ryan, on November 4.  Ryan was accused of killing his father-in-law.

According to Antipolo, Jimenez assisted her son to escape from them using the backdoor of their house. Antipolo said they also noticed Jimenez was holding a gun trying to run away prompting them to chase her.

“Nag-serve mi’g warrant of arrest sa iyang anak, during sa continuous operation, akong nakit-an si Ryan nidagan, siya pud nidagan sulod sa balay, nakita nako nga milusot sa pikas nagbitbit og KG-9,” he said.

Antipolo said the injuries sustained by Susana were caused by her running away from the police.

Antipolo added that the closed-circuit television footage would bear him out that Jimenez was never butt-stroked as she claimed she was.

“Sukwahi kaayo na sir, naa gani tay cctv footage sa police station naglakaw siya,” he said.

Antipolo said it is also unbelievable for them to plant a KG-9 machine pistol as evidence.

“KG-9 i-planted? Kamahal ra sad sir, naa pa man gani mi kauban nga walay armas ‘nya amo na hinuon i-planted,” Antipolo added.

Jimenez allegedly admitted during investigation that she sold cow to buy the KG-9 machine pistol.

“Nihangyo nga di siya filan og kaso kay di iyang armas, during sa dakop niingon nga anugon kaayo sir kay gibaligyaan nila og baka aron makapalit og armas,” he said.

Antipolo said he is willing to face the charges and considered it as part of the hazards of the job of a policeman.

Jimenez, in her complaint, asked the anti-graft office to place the respondents under preventive suspension pending resolution of the case. (FREEMAN)