Retired cops, civilians speak up about being mauled, too, by the Garins

MANILA, Philippines — Prior to beating up a policeman, Guimbal town Mayor Oscar Garin and his son Iloilo 1st District Rep. Richard Garin have also allegedly mauled other police officers and civilians, Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, director of the Western Visayas Police, said on Thursday.

Bulalacao said retired police officers in the town are now speaking up about the alleged physical abuse they experienced under the Garins.

“Retired [police officers] na ‘yung mga nagsasalita ngayon. May mga kwento sila na sad experiences sa mga Garin,” Bulalacao told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview.

(Those speaking now are retired [police officers]. They have stories of sad experiences with the Garins.)

“[They say] they have been very arrogant. They have the tendency to do physical harm and then bibigyan nila ng pera para hindi magreklamo (they will give the victims money in exchange for not filing cases),” he added.

According to Bulalacao, the alleged physical abuses suffered by the other victims were similar to what PO3 Federico Macaya Jr. had experienced, such as being slapped and punched by the Garins.

The Garins were accused of mauling Macaya, who was allegedly disarmed, frisked, and handcuffed by the two politicians. He was also allegedly slapped, spat at, and threatened while being held at gunpoint, according to police.

READ: Rep. Garin, Guimbal mayor face raps for beating up, pointing gun at cop

Bulalacao said the other victims were afraid to file charges against the Garins, and almost all of the members of the Guimbal Municipal Police Station (MPS) have volunteered to be relieved from their posts following Macaya’s mauling.

The police station has 29 police personnel who were all saddened by the ordeal their colleague had gone through, according to PNP Spokesperson Chief Supt. Benigno Durana Jr.

“They do not want to suffer the same [fate in] the hands of the Garins just like what PO3 Macaya has experienced,” Bulalacao said.

He said he favors new police officers not familiar with the Garins to replace the existing lawmen in the town.

The current personnel of the Guimbal MPS can choose where they want to transfer, according to Bulalacao. He added that they have sufficient police officers to replace them.

The Garins are now facing seven criminal complaints and four administrative cases for mauling Macaya.

READ: Garins face 7 criminal complaints, 4 admin cases for mauling cop

Rep. Garin earlier issued an apology over the incident, saying his actions were a “mere display of extreme frustration towards one, single PNP personnel nga sa akon panglantaw [whom I perceived] committed a great disservice to the people of Guimbal.” /ee/ac

READ: Rep. Richard Garin apologizes for incident with cop in Iloilo