SWAT cop probed for ‘beating up, pointing gun at junkshop worker’

INQUIRER.NET FILE PHOTO

CEBU CITY — A member of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) in Talisay City, southern Cebu, is facing administrative charges for allegedly mauling and pointing his gun at a junkshop worker on Monday.

PO1 Carl Sebial was relieved from his post on Tuesday pending the conduct of an investigation being conducted by the Talisay City Police Office.

He was also stripped off his service firearm upon the order of Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, deputy regional director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) to whom the complainant, Crisologo Magdalones, approached for help.

“We don’t condone any police officer who commits any wrongdoing. We will conduct an investigation so that justice will be served,” Lawas told reporters.

“If we won’t do anything, erring policemen will continue what they are doing. Let us help stop the abuses made by policemen,” he added.

Sebial refused to give any statement to the media.

Magdalones, 32, and a resident of Barangay Sudlon 1, Cebu City, was driving his motorcycle when he accidentally bumped the motorcycle driven by Sebial in Barangay Lagtang, Talisay City.
Sebial, he said, was drunk when the incident happened.

“I was driving my motorcycle  at a slow speed when Sebial’s motorcycle suddenly blocked my way. I hit him,” Magdalones said.

An angry Sebial, who was wearing a SWAT uniform, allegedly approached Magdalones and pointed what appeared to be a .45-caliber pistol at the complainant’s stomach..

“I was so scared that I was trembling, and I could barely speak. He slapped me on the face,” Magdalones said.

He said Sebial got his driver’s license as well as the his motor vehicle’s registration.

Talisay police chief Germano Mallari was directed by Lawas to find some witnesses that could help them in the investigation.  SFM