GMA-7 to file case, cops deny wrongdoing

Three police officers from the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office denied any role in a case where they were blamed for failing to protect broadcast journalists from GMA-7 who were harassed by three Koreans last Feb. 11 in the police station.

GMA-7 program manager Suzanne Salva-Alueta said the police never gave them the names of the three Korean women who grabbed their TV camera.

A certain John Lee was the only one identified as he introduced himself as the manager of the Korean Association in Cebu.

“We will definitely file the case against these Koreans. Our legal counsel Edward Lim from Manila is drafting the complaint,” she said.

Alueta said that it was hard to believe the police were unable to jot down the names of the Korean women. Nevertheless, the women will be indicated as Jane Does in the TV station’s complaint as Mr. Lee is already identified

SPO4 Edgar Sagarino said he was not around when the incident happened.

The same denial was made by Senior Inspector Zenaido Pastorfide Jr., chief of the homicide section.

The complaint was filed by GMA-7 reporter Bexmae Jumao-as and cameraman Leofil “Bruce” Labastida for serious neglect of duty and gross incompetence before the Investigation Division of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office .

Pastorfide said he will submit a counter affidavit to the Investigative Division.

PO2 Jacklord Pugoy was not available for comment yesterday but Senior Insp. Rogelio Pineda, chief of the LLCPO Intelligence Division said Pugoy will answer the complaint.

Jumao-as and Labastida were following up the story on the death of Whenvy Noel at the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office to get an update on the Korean suspect Hyun Chul Hwang.

Noel was found dead in a Lapu-Lapu City hotel last Feb. 9, and Hwang who is believed to have attempted suicide has been considered a suspect. The Korean is now recuperating in a hospital in Cebu City. /Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza