Police official accused of mauling cop

CEBU, Philippines — The Regional Highway Patrol Unit - 7 is investigating an incident that involved a policeman allegedly mauling another cop during a training last month.

The incident involving Police Chief Insp. Chuck Barandog and PO3 Lyndon Castro allegedly happened on February 26, 2019 at the South Road Properties, according to a memorandum signed by Police Senior Supt. Robert Mesa.

Allegedly, Barandog punched Castro several times “with no apparent” reason.

“A mauling incident that transpired at South Road Properties (SRP) wherein PO3 Lyndon C. Castro was boxed repeatedly by PCI Chuck Barandog with no apparent reason while PO3 Castro was performing duty as instructor of MCRC and MRST on or about 9:15 a.m. February 26, 2019,” the memorandum reads.

In a text message to The FREEMAN, Barandog said he will answer the allegations.

“I’ll answer it in a proper venue, allegation raman na nila,” his message reads.

Barandog is the chief of the Cebu City Mobile Force Company.

Mesa’s memorandum also mentioned an incident afternoon on February 23, 2019 wherein two unidentified suspects fired shots at Castro’s house.

Because of these two incidents, Mesa suspended the Motorcyle Riding Course and Motorcycle Safety Training Course that Castro was teaching.

This is not the first time Barandog’s name figured in a controversy.

Earlier, at the height of the tension between Cebu City Police Office Director Royina Garma and Mayor Tomas Osmeña, the mayor mentioned Barandog as among the cops Garma allegedly brought to Cebu whose mission included killing with Osmeña as an alleged target.

“There is this guy — I keep forgetting his name — Barandog. He is my suspect in the shooting of Lozano and the other one… He is with CIDG, when Garma was chief of CIDG. When Garma transferred to Cebu City police, she brought him along, and I asked her to get rid of him. Now I’m asking her again publicly to get rid of him,” Osmeña said in a previous report.

Garma came to Barandog’s defense and challenged the mayor to reveal his source. — JMO (FREEMAN)