Officer ‘strikes’ farmer-suspect with blotter book in the head

FIVE police officers, including its police chief, in Boljoon, south Cebu, are in hot water after a farmer complained that one of them struck him with a police blotter book at the Boljoon police precinct.

Luceno Amancio, 50, said that PO1 Rex Pelonio struck him with a blotter in the head as he was led inside the jail.

In an interview with Cebu Daily News, Amancio of Dalaguete town, south Cebu, said he was on his way to visit his relatives in Boljoon town when he saw a police car parked along the road in sitio Camparang, barangay El Pardo, last Jan. 22, 2012.

Amancio said there were four officers inside the patrol car: SPO2 Rogelio Fernandez; PO1 Bienvenido Baloro; PO1 Pelonio ang one who is still not identified.

Amancio said one of the officers picked a sack sitting along the road not far from the patrol car.

He said PO2 Fernandez then asked him if the sack containing a steel cage and two endangered birds (alimukon and punay) were his to which he replied in the negative.

But PO2 Fernandez allegedly got irked and pointed his pistol at Amancio ordering him to go with them to the police precinct for capturing endangered species.

Scared, Amacio said he went with the police only to be struck by Pelonio with a police blotter as he was led inside the prison cell.

The next day, Jan. 23, police said Amancio was charged with violation of the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act or RA 9147.

Amancio, who is now out on a P2,000 bail, said he was locked up inside the jail without food. He said the police officers only gave him food on Jan. 24 after he told them that he has a relative who is a high-ranking police official.

In an interview, PO1 Pelonio denied that he struck the complainant with a police blotter.

Pelonio said Amacio was carrying the sack in his hands when they saw him.

He said they asked him to open the sack and discovered the two endangered birds inside the steel cage.

“He has a right to file counter charges against us. But we saw him (Amancio) carrying the sack (containing the steel cage and the birds),” Pelonio said.

Insp. Julius Ompad, deputy of chief of PIDMB-CPPO, said if these allegations would be proven true, the police officers and Boljoon police chief Insp. Rico Emperwa would be charged with human rights violation.

Ompad said it is up to Amacio if he would file criminal charges against them but they would surely file administrative case against the police officers.

Ompad said they might file grave misconduct against the officers, which is punishable with dismissal from work. correspondent gabriel bonjoc