Liloan cop chief, 8 others sacked

CEBU, Philippines — Liloan Police Station chief Major Welther Grapa and eight of his anti-drug operatives have been relieved effective yesterday while an investigation is being conducted by the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) on the allegation that they illegally entered a house and had beaten a criminology student for asserting his right against illegal searches.

Police Lt. Col. Mark Gifter Sucalit, CPPO’s Deputy Provincial Director for Operation, said Major Eric Gingoyon was designated as the new chief of police of Liloan while Grapa and his men were ordered to report to the Police Holding and Accounting Unit (PHAU).

Sucalit said the Provincial Investigation and Detection Management Unit (PIDMU) has already started the investigation. The result of the investigation will be submitted to the Internal Affairs Service (IAS).

Criminology student Jager Campania complained at the radio program of Senator Raffy Tulfo about the alleged violation of domicile committed by the operatives of Liloan Police Station.

Campania said seven policemen--one of them he identified as SSgt Nick-Hell Baculi Tabasa—barged into his house at Purok Molave 9, Barangay Tayud, Liloan shortly before midnight on April 18, 2023.

The policemen, who were all wearing civilian clothes, were looking for a certain Odot. Campania claimed the policemen did not have a search warrant and some appeared drunk when they entered his house.

Campania said during Tulfo’s radio program that when he protested the illegal entry and told the police that they could be sued for violation of domicile, the policemen got angry.

Two of the seven policemen allegedly started beating him. Fortunately, Campania said, he got the chance to escape. Campania even showed to the senator the injuries in his face and eyes. Sucalit assured criminal charges will be filed against those responsible if probable cause is found in the ongoing investigation.

He, however, said that a complaint for physical injury was already filed against Tabasa, whom Campania identified as one of those mauled him. Sucalit said the administrative charges will depend on the outcome of the ongoing investigation.

Sucalit said that entering a house without a valid search warrant from the court is highly irregular.

“As a matter of procedure kami dili gyud mi makasulod og balay kung wala mi search warrant, of course, makasulod mi’g balay kung naay instances nga naa mi warrant nisulod sa balay, we need to effect the warrant of arrest to break in so kana nga instance but other than that, of course, other circumstances during sa buy-bust operation and so on nga kinahanglan mi mosulod but yun nga kung kana mapamatud-an nga tinood ang gisulti sa biktima dako gyud og tulubagon ang atoang tropa,” said Sucalit.

He said the provincial police headquarters will not be tolerating any wrongdoings among its personnel. Sucalit urged all the station commanders to closely supervise their operatives.

Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of Police Regional Office (PRO)-7, vowed that those who will be proven guilty will face the consequences of their actions.

“After sa investigation kung makuha na nato ang facts sa case we can get the findings of the investigator on case then that’s the time that administrative penalty, if evidence warrant, will be given,” said Pelare.— FPL (FREEMAN)