Soldier threatens cop at fiscal’s office

MANILA, Philippines - A military sergeant found himself in hot water after he allegedly threatened a policewoman at the Quezon City prosecutor’s office on Monday.

Sergeant Henry Abonalla, 44, was brought into custody following the confrontation with Police Officer 2 Marissa Lim, 47, outside the room of a prosecutor during a break in the hearing of a complaint against Abonalla at past 9 a.m.

PO2 Louie Serbito said Abonalla was the respondent in a grave threat complaint filed by Orlando Serrano Jr., Lim’s relative.

Abonalla was assigned with Camp Aguinaldo while Lim is with the Quezon City Police District.

Serbito said Lim had accompanied Serrano to the preliminary investigation of the complaint against Abonalla. She was waiting outside the fiscal’s room, wearing a police uniform. A power outage halted the hearing, prompting the parties to go out of the room.

Abonalla reportedly took out a camera and snapped a photo of Lim, arousing her suspicion. She then confronted the soldier, demanding that he erase it from his phone. The soldier refused.

A heated argument ensued, during which Lim even chased Abonalla in an effort to have the photo deleted.

Serbito, quoting witnesses’ accounts, said Abonalla allegedly pushed and elbowed the policewoman in the chest.

The soldier even allegedly uttered invectives and threats against her, saying “May araw ka rin sa akin (I’ll get you, one of these days).”

Lim sought help from policemen detailed at the city justice hall.