CAJIDIOCAN POLICEMEN CHARGED WITH GRAVED MISCONDUCT BEFORE OMBUDSMAN
Four policemen of the police force of Cajidiocan, Romblon have been charged before Ombudsman for grave misconduct and dereliction of duty by Mrs. Anita Guru, a teacher at the Cajidiocan National High School.
The four policemen are Chief Inspector Rogelio Gumban, Cheif of Police, SPO2 Leoncio Rey Rabino, SPO Freddie Calinog and PO1 Lani Ruba.According to Mrs. Guru, the case arose out of an accident that happened on the night of December 17, 2000.Her son, Nasser, 19 years old, while walking in a partially lighted street ot the town plaza on his way home, was attacked and incurred a two-inch cut in the head. The policemen who were in a nearby store, instead of running after the attacker, turned on Nasser and his brother Mohammad and scolded the two.
SPO2 Rabino, PO1 Ruba and another vendor from the "baratilyo", a companion of the attacker, allegedly held Mohammad and tried to make him kneel. Ruba allegedly kept on cursing him and SPO2 Calinog even poked his gun at the head of Mohammad. When a bystander, a certain Randy Catama who witnessed the incident, advised the policemen that it was not Mohammad who started the commotion but a vendor from the "baratilyo", SPO2 Calinog got angry and also poked his gun at the head of the bystander.Mrs. Guru then arrived and they were all brought to the police barracks. Nasser, was not brought to the hospital even when his head was bleeding profusely. Mrs. Guru insisted that the incident be recorded in the police blotter.The following days and weeks Mrs. Guru followed up with the police office of the status of the investigation, if there was one and if the attacker had already been apprehended. The police chief SPO3 Gumban always advise her that the attacker could not be found. However, Mrs. Guru found out that the companion vendor of the attacker who could have shed more light on the whereabouts of the attacker was allegedly advised by the policemen to leave town.Mrs. Guru said there was grave misconduct in the policemen not pursuing the attacker and instead turning on her son Mohammad and Nasser, their not immediately bringing her son Nasser to the hospital, their not investigating the vendor companion of the attacker and instead advising him to leave the town.