2 Cebu cops facing probe for excessive force in arrest

CEBU CITY—Two city policemen face investigation for the use of excessive force in arresting a Papua New Guinea (PNG) national who was causing trouble in one of the city’s villages.

The PNG national, Bennidict Penini, 29, and a student, was being arrested by police after his neighbors in Barangay (village) Banilad called for help as Penini, apparently drunk, went around the village half naked, shouting and challenging people to a fight.

When police came to arrest Penini, he initially threw stones at the law enforcers that led to the filing of a direct assault charge against him. The charge was revised to resisting arrest.

Primo Cadampog, investigator of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Central Visayas, on Tuesday said Penini would file a complaint against Police Officer 1 Phillip James Tanza and Police Officer 2 Bradford Lavandero.

Tanza and Lavandero were part of a team of policemen that arrested Penini.

Video shown by the network ANC showed one policeman hitting Penini with the butt of a rifle and another kicking him after the law enforcers were able to wrestle Penini to the ground.

Penini’s lawyer, Fritz Lastimoso, went to the CHR office on Tuesday to inform the CHR of Penini’s intent to sue the policemen.

Tanza and Lavandero have been relieved from their posts and transferred to the holding unit of the Cebu City police office.

Chief Superintendent Marcelo Garbo, regional police chief, ordered a separate investigation.