Cop, cohort nabbed for threatening ‘rival’

A member of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force and his companion were arrested Monday for allegedly threatening to shoot a competitor who also sold grilled innards.

Charges were filed against Police Officer 2 Hegino Polanes, 38, assigned at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City, and Herminio Sagrada, 25, a resident of FB Harrison in Pasay City who mans Polanes’ stall.

Armando Amora Umapas, 36, a resident of Muñoz Street in Paco, Manila, said that at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Polanes, who was in civilian clothes and on a motorcycle, told him to remove his stall located in front of a convenience store on Jimenez Street. Umapas said Polanes also owned a stall of grilled innards, which was on the next block.

“He probably wanted to monopolize the area,” Umapas said. Later at 11 p.m., Umapas said Polanes and Sagrada came to his house on a motorcycle. Polanes allegedly shouted expletives at him and said, “Take down your stall or else I’ll shoot you.” Polanes was carrying an M-16 while Sagrada held a 9-mm pistol.

Barangay officials, however, intervened and arrested them.—Erika Sauler