Cop in trouble for “choking” woman

CEBU, Philippines - A police officer assigned in Mandaue City is now in trouble after a woman alleged that he choked her over an alleged Facebook post against the policeman’s girlfriend.

A 27-year-old woman, who requested for anonymity, came forward to the Police Regional Office-7 yesterday morning and submitted an affidavit claiming that Police Officer 1 Juanito Libres Jr. of Casuntingan Police Station maltreated her.

The woman said Libres was angry at her because she allegedly posted pictures of her and Libres, together to the police officer’s girlfriend, on Facebook.

The woman, who is a neighbor of Libres, said at around 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. last Monday night, she was at their boarding house in Barangay Casuntingan, Mandaue City watching television when she suddenly heard a thud.

However, she said she was alarmed when a stone landed near where she was lying.

The woman said she went near the window and asked her neighbors who threw the stone but did not receive a response.

When she was about to open the door, she heard footsteps apparently headed her way. Suddenly, the door was opened by Libres who was allegedly still in his uniform.

“Naka-uniform unya nakainom or hubog ba to siya kay nanimaho man gyud og beer,” said the victim.

The woman said Libres started yelling at her and allegedly said “nganong sige man ka og panghilabot sa akong uyab!”

She said Libres scolded her for sending pictures of them together to Libres’ girlfriend and posting a status on Facebook as if her posts are addressed to Libres’ girlfriend.

The woman denied the allegations. She said she fought back and asked Libres what was his problem since she allegedly had no idea what Libres was talking about.

However, she said Libres choked her while pushing her back at the same time.

The woman said Libres’ friend went upstairs and broke off the commotion.

After what happened, the woman said she, accompanied by her father and friend, went to the Casuntingan Police Station to report the incident.

However, she said she was disappointed when the desk officer only told them to go to the Barangay Hall first since she did not sustain any bruises.

She said her accounts were not even recorded in the blotter.  She said she was just given the hotline number of the police station in case Libres would confront her again.

With this, she said they directly went to the Mandaue City Police Office to file their complaint against Libres.

The woman said she and Libres got to know each other since the policeman would visit his friend, who also boards the same house she was renting.

“Ipadayon gyud ni nako kay kung dili ni i-push through, magpadayon na siya sa iyang gibuhat. Daghan na mi maing-ani tungod kay mahadlok niya kay pulis siya,” said the victim.

Based on another Facebook status posted by the woman past five p.m. yesterday, she said she wants Libres’ license as a policeman revoked. She also said, a “case will be filed formally soon” against Libres.

Prior to the incident, Libres reportedly got mad after he read a post on her Facebook account hinting about the police officer’s girlfriend being “taga-bukid.”

“Wala ko’y gi-name sa akong post. Normal ra to siya, random post lang,” she said.

Libres, on the other hand, denied that he threw rocks at the woman’s boarding house. He also belied the allegation that he choked the complainant.

“Di na tinood. Allegation ra na,” Libres said.

Libres, though, admitted that he went to complainant’s boarding house. He said he just got off from work and was still wearing his uniform.

“Mohangyo ra unta ko nga dili na siya magsamok sa akong uyab... Giadto nako siya (complainant) sa iyang boarding house kay nihangyo ko nga dili na siya magsige’g panghilabot,” Libres said in a phone interview.

Libres also denied that he was drunk when he went to complainant’s house.

“Gibali niya ang nahitabo nga hubog ko. Siya ang nisipa-sipa nako, nikamras,” Libres said.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Henry Biñas, the acting chief of the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division, said they will have to investigate the allegation and if they will find probable cause, Libres will be subjected to a pre-charge evaluation.

Biñas said the Casuntingan Police Station will also be included in the investigation due to the woman’s allegation that she was not accommodated properly.  (FREEMAN)