Manila policeman made me strip, cries student

A MANILA policeman with an alleged reputation for harassing people whenever he was drunk has been accused by a student of mauling him, forcing him to strip and stealing his valuables in Tondo, Manila.

Although the incident happened on Feb. 21, Patrick Calvin Dayrit, 21, filed the formal complaint only on Thursday against PO1 Marlon Ignacio San Diego.

This was after San Diego, assigned at the Manila Police District’s Sta. Ana station, ignored the two summonses sent by the General Assignment Section (GAS), the unit tasked to investigate allegations against Manila policemen.

Chief Supt. Rolando Nana, MPD director, said San Diego’s snub meant that he was waiving to his right to be heard.

Nana added that he would order a speedy administrative investigation into allegations against the policeman, stressing  that he “would not tolerate any wrongdoing.”

“We will determine the extent of his liability so we can [impose] the [appropriate] disciplinary action,” he said.

MPD-GAS head Chief Insp. Arsenio Riparip said they may file charges of physical injuries and abuse of authority against the policeman today (Friday).

They also want to determine if he reported for work on Feb. 22 and 24 when the summonses were sent to him.

According to Dayrit, San Diego had done the same thing to other people in the area whenever he was drunk.

Based on his complaint, Dayrit was walking home near Bambang market in Tondo, Manila, around 3 a.m. on Sunday when the police blocked his path and tripped him, causing him to fall. The suspect then accused him of robbery and rape.

He added that while he was lying on the ground, San Diego started kicking him, ordered him to strip to his underwear and then took his cell phone and P2,000 in cash.

Dayrit also claimed that San Diego tried to shoot him but missed. The policeman made him get up and as they were walking, San Diego kept on hitting him in the head.

As they passed in front of a barangay hall, some officials tried to stop the policeman who told them to mind their own business. A barangay watchman eventually rescued him but did not restrain San Diego, Dayrit said.  Aie Balagtas See and Jonathan Leonor