10 cops face relief for robbing fishermen

ALABEL, Sarangani, Philippines— Ten police officers were stripped of their badges and had been disarmed following complaints they terrorized a group of fishermen in Kawas village here before robbing them of their catch.

“We will never tolerate police abuses in the province,” Gov. Miguel Dominguez told reporters after ordering the provincial police office to have the policemen suspended.

“They have been disarmed, stripped of their badges,” said Dominguez, adding he wanted the policemen to be terminated.

Chief Supt. Benjardi Mantele, Central Mindanao police director, said criminal charges for indiscriminate firing, theft and robbery had also been filed against SPO1 Edwin Perlas, PO3 Edmund Estares, PO3 Joel Cabrera, PO3 Gonzalo Semolar, PO2 Christian Gonzales, PO2 Hermogenes Pecolados, PO1 Danilo Alinsugay, PO1 Rommel Bedna, PO1 Joel Nonat and PO1 Francisco Lara at the provincial prosecutor’s office.

The fishermen said they were accosted by the policemen on April 21 in Lago beach. The policemen fired their guns and seized their catch, the fishermen said.