Caloocan cop charged with illegal detention

A member of the Caloocan City police force was charged yesterday for illegally detaining and beating up a messenger. The erring cop was identified as PO2 Joselito Andres, assigned at the Police Community Precinct 5 at Rizal avenue Extension, corner 3rd Avenue.

The cases have been docketed as Information Sheet Numbers 08-2-546 and 08-2-154, respectively. The administrative aspect will be filed at the Internal affairs Section at the PNP Headquarters in Camp Crame, officials said.

The complainant was identified as Rodel Salac y Macapagal, 28, resident of Malvar street, Tondo, Manila.

Records showed the incident began sometime between 5 and 6 p.m. on Feb. 10 along 3rd Avenue. Salac said that a cop in Type-B uniform, who later turned out to be Andres, arrested, handcuffed and later mauled him.

Salac said he was taken to PCP 5 allegedly on a complaint by an unnamed woman for physical injuries he inflicted on her.

Salac said he was innocent of the crime imputed to him and did not know the woman in the said incident. While being investigated, the victim said he was punched by the cop and later released but only after the cop divested him of P340, everything he had at the time.

Salac said the amount was taken by Andres, who gave P300 to the unidentified woman and gave back the P40 to him.

During formal investigation, Salac identified Andres in a file photo at the police station as the cop who attacked him.  – Jerry Botial