CCTV catches cop roughing up tricycle driver in Davao City

A policeman may have dealt his organization a black eye after allegedly poking a gun at and roughing up a tricycle driver in Davao City.

 

Tricycle driver Manuel Corral sought help from RGMA Super Radyo Davao against the policeman initially identified as PO1 Jeffer Villegas, GMA Davao reported Friday.

 

Villegas, reportedly assigned to the Toril police station in Davao City, also allegedly threatened to kill Corral if he did not leave the area.

 

It was the latest blow to the image of the PNP, many of whose members had been linked to several recent crimes.

 

Several policemen were linked to a "hulidap" along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue in Mandaluyong City last Sept. 1. A photo of the incident went viral.

 

At least two policemen from Malolos in Bulacan were linked to the abduction of a Chinese national in Caloocan City last Monday.

 

Attack

 

Corral said he was at the wake of his sibling when Villegas allegedly attacked him. He said a police team had been conducting an operation near the funeral parlor.

 

The GMA Davao report said footage from a closed-circuit television camera showed the subject of the police operation allegedly trying to hide in the sidecar of Corral's tricycle.

 

But after police arrested the suspect, Villegas looked for the owner of the sidecar, and Corral approached him.

 

"Pinatawag ako ng pulis. Paglapit ko, dinuro-duro sa akin ang baril, nagkadugo-dugo ang mukha ko," Corral said.

 

He added Villegas even told him to leave, or he will kill him.

 

The CCTV footage showed Villegas drawing his handgun and poking it at Corral, then hitting him in the stomach.

 

"Ang ikinatakot ko lang na nung kasi tinutok niya sa may sentido ko, sa ulo ko ang baril. Kung pumutok yun, dalawa na kami ng kapatid ko na ibinurol nun," Corral said.

 

Corral had been linked to drugs in the neighborhood but said he has since reformed.

 

Meanwhile, Toril police station head Chief Inspector Hamlet Lerios said Villegas could face charges for what he did.

 

"Kailangan talaga kung sino ang mali, para malaman din kung ma-file natin administratibo o kriminal, malaman natin kung ano ang totoo," he said.

 

Lerios also reminded his men to exercise maximum tolerance. "Huwag tayo umabuso porke't may mga baril tayo, mananakit na tayo. Mali yun, hindi yan ina-allow kahit sino rito sa Toril," he said. — Joel Locsin/VC, GMA News