M’daue cop held for ‘robbery’ freed

A MANDAUE City policeman accused of robbing a Japanese national and detained on Saturday evening was released from the Lapu-Lapu City detention cell yesterday after the reglementary period to hold him lapsed.

PO2 Bruce Taneo of the Basak police precinct in Mandaue City was freed at 5 p.m. after Masami Kon, the complainant, failed to file a written complaint against Taneo.

Insp. William Homoc, chief of the Theft and Robbery Section of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, said Kon only gave them a verbal account of his complaint.

Homoc gave three reasons for Kon’s hesitance to file a case against Taneo—fears for his security, delay in his work, and he was convinced by his boss not to pursue the case.

Kon earlier accused Taneo of taking P12,000 cash in his wallet after he was trying to help a woman whom he sideswiped in Lapu-Lapu City.

Taneo however claimed that it was a merely a misunderstanding between both parties.

Senior Supt. Noel Gillamac, Lapu-Lapu City police chief, said they would still investigate Taneo if there was really an intent to do the crime and perhaps file an administrative case against him.