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Baguio policemen in hot water over charges of brutality

May face dismissal

BAGUIO CITY (Nov. 11) — Four Baguio police officers of Sub-station No. 9 in Irisan here may face possible dismissal on charges of police brutality filed by Myl Espiritu, son of former Baguio City Police Chief Sr. Supt. Romeo Espiritu.

Late on October 24, SPO4 Johnson Ayagen, PO3 Archie Diaz, PO2 Anselmo Mayao and PO2 Lorenzo Sapucay allegedly mauled the younger Espiritu, an employee of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Savings and Loans Association, Inc (AFPSLAI) here.

In his complaint filed before the People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) at the Baguio Prosecutor’s Office corroborated by affidavits of eyewitnesses, Espiritu claimed that the officers mauled him while he and companion Susante Tela were calming down a group of unidentified men who were ganging up on a companion, Richard Ravalo. The fight started when Ravalo accidentally bumped a parked van belonging to the unidentified men.

During the incident, Espiritu fell and when he stood up, a mobile police car stopped in front of him. Without an inquiry, he said the four police officers started kicking and punching him in different parts of the body. He was continually mauled despite his pleas, he said.

SPO4 Ayagen reportedly stamped on Espiritu’s hands and feet repeatedly before cuffing him.

Inside the mobile car, Espiritu said he requested that his handcuffs be removed to wipe the blood off his face. Instead, PO2 Sapucay allegedly poked his service pistol at him and said “Uray sinno ti ayabam nga abogado” then hit Espiritu’s lips with the pistol. Not contented, Sapucay reportedly slapped his face again and shouted at him to keep quiet.

Medical certificates issued by government and private doctors duly support the allegations of Espiritu.

The victim was later brought to Sub-station No. 1 where the four policemen learned that he is the son of Sr. Supt. Espiritu, now the Deputy Regional Director for Operations of Police Regional Office 1.

Espiritu filed charges of grave misconduct, oppression and violation of law with the PLEB, and physical injuries and grave threats with the Prosecutors Office this month.

“These police officers deserve nothing less but dismissal from service. We should not allow police officers to manhandle even a suspect, in this case an innocent person whom they are supposed to serve and protect”, said Atty. Noe Villanueva, the victim’s counsel.

Sr. Supt. Espiritu lamented that three of the four officers being indicted served under him when he was City Police Chief. He said he is hoping that justice be served not only because his son is involved but because the police officers violated their oath. # Beverly Longid for NORDIS

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