Mandaue cop: No robbery at all, just a failure to communicate

IT was a mere communication failure that caused a Japanese national to claim that he was robbed, a Mandaue City police officer accused of the crime claimed yesterday.

At the Lapu-Lapu City police precinct where he was detained, PO2 Bruce Taneo told Cebu Daily News that he asked Japanese national Masami Kon to follow him in a Mandaue police precinct.

Kon figured in a vehicular accident with a woman in M. Patalinhug Street, barangay Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City last week.

Taneo said he asked Kon if he had a driver’s license which the Japanese failed to produce.

Taneo said he took Kon’s leather wallet to see if he had a license along with the plate number of Kon’s vehicle.

Instead of following him, Kon reported the incident to the Lapu-Lapu City police, Taneo said.

Taneo, currently assigned at the Basak police precinct in Mandaue City, was accused of stealing P12,000 from Kon.

But Taneo claimed there was only P6,000 in Kon’s wallet.

He faces administrative charges in relation to the incident. Taneo said Kon and his Filipino wife went to his detention cell and promised not to press charges against him.

Senior Supt. Noel Gillamac, Mandaue City police chief, told Cebu Daily News that Taneo did take the license plate of Kon’s vehicle.

He said Taneo should secure a written affidavit in the event of a settlement with Kon.

Gillamac said he was told by Senior Supt. Anthony Obenza, Lapu-Lapu City police chief, that Taneo was spotted in a drug den in sitio Humay-Humay, barangay Gun-ob two months ago.

He said he has yet to verify the report.