CALAPAN CITY—Despite the existing gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections, a drunken policeman, brandishing his service pistol, sowed terror in the heart of this city Thursday night.
Five of the civilian victims, including a six-year-old boy, intimidated by PO1 Percival P. Poral, a native of Iloilo City, complained before the Calapan Police Station that they were bodily harmed by the drunken police officer. He also threatened to kill them.
P/Supt. Jonathan P. Paguio, Calapan City police chief, identified the four complainants as Joel P. Atienza, 23, of Barangay Ibaba East, Reynel C. Miraples, 39, of Barangay Salong, Junjun G. Morales, 22, of Barangay Calero, and Erwin G. Alon, 37, of Barangay Ibaba West, said they were punched and kicked by Poral while pointing at them the latter’s service pistol.
Calapan City Mayor Arnan C. Panaligan directed the provincial police office to “relieve immediately Poral from Calapan and institute administrative proceedings and file appropriate criminal charges, if necessary, against the police officer.”
“I won’t tolerate this ugly incident to happen again in this city, which is considered as one of the most peaceful cities in the country. A policeman like Poral has no place in Calapan City,” the irate Mayor Panaligan said.
The incidents happened successively in three separate public places in this capital city that night and were witnessed by several people. “That bad behavior of a police officer [referring to Poral] only tainted the good image of the Philippine National Police as protector of the people,” residents said.
It happened, one after the other between 10:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. that night, near Chowking in the commercial district of Barangay San Vicente, in nearby Calapan City public market and the crowded city plaza.
Provincial officials of the Comelec here said the prohibition on bearing and carrying firearms and other deadly weapons are already in effect since Jan. 10 and ends in June 8, this year when the incidents happened.
In Calapan City plaza, Alon said while he was waiting for a relative, Poral arrived on a motorcycle at 10:25 p.m., cursed at him and punched him twice.
The policeman then pointed his gun at the six-year old boy who witnessed the incident.
Then Poral told Alon to go with him at the police station. The police officer kicked the victim again on his left leg when he was about to board the motorcycle.
At the police station, Poral punched and kicked Alon again in the presence of fellow policemen. Other police officers tried to stop Poral from harming Alon but to no avail. Poral is reportedly a close relative of a ranking police official assigned with the office of the provincial police director in the province.