Cop coddling snatchers faces raps

The story of the cellular phone snatching that led to the death of two teenagers, took a new twist yesterday after a Quezon City prosecutor held a rookie policeman responsible after he "pressured and ordered" the boys to get a cellphone for his girlfriend.

Prosecutor Elmo Alameda recommended the filing of robbery and child abuse charges against Police Officer 1 Socrates Galvez for ordering Francis Mejares, 15; Richard Imbili, 16 and Joel Defeo, all from Araneta Avenue, Quezon City, to produce a cellular phone for his girlfriend.

Alameda explained that the robbery charges involved Galvez’s order to the three to snatch a cellular phone, while violation of Republic Act 7610 stemmed from his forcing Mejares and Imbili to do illegal acts.

Alameda recommended P300,000 bail for Galvez, who is assigned at the Galas police (Station 11). He will also face administrative charges that could lead to his dismissal from the service.

The prosecutor said the case was anchored on the testimony of survivor Defeo, who is now recuperating at the Orthopedic Hospital from a gunshot wound in the back. Mejares and Imbili died shortly after the shooting Tuesday morning.

Defeo told Superintendent David Benavides, chief of the Central Police District-Criminal Investigation Unit, that prior to the shooting, Galvez approached them and ordered them to produce a cellular phone.

"The three were so afraid that Galvez would get back at them should they fail to produce a handset. Because of fear, the three snatched the cellular phone of a taxi passenger on Tuesday morning and led to the shooting incident," said Benavides in his report.

Unfortunately, when the teenagers snatched the handset, PO2 Ruel Yepes was there to accost them. A brief chase ensued, during which Yepes shot the three suspects.

"Galvez’s case must serve as a lesson to all policemen who use their badges and guns to coerce individuals into performing illegal activities," said Inquest Prosecutor Ben dela Cruz. – Cecille Suerte Felipe