Garma reinstates 8 cops in ‘mauling video’

CEBU City Police Office (CCPO) Director Royina Garma has ordered the reinstatement of eight Talamban Police Station personnel who were earlier relieved for their alleged involvement in mauling three men, including a drug suspect.

An investigation was initiated by Garma after a video showing armed men mauling three persons during what appeared to be a police operation circulated on social media last month.

One of the men in the video was identified as Eddie Basillote, a suspected pusher who was caught by the Talamban police operatives in a drug bust in Barangay Carreta last April 18.

According to Garma, the investigators failed to establish that the persons who mauled Basillote and his companions are members of Talamban Police Station.

“I was wrapping up the investigation... I was not able to prove that they were in the place. So, I will reinstate them and there’s nothing wrong with that,” she said in mixed Tagalog and English.

The camp of outgoing Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who has been critical of the police, charged the eight men before the city prosecutor’s office. Only three men were identified.

Complaints for grave threats, torture and serious physical injuries were filed against Reovan Carmelo Rota, Vernie Magdali, Brendro Tudtud, three John Does known as Tagalog, Lagunsad and Adalim and two other John Does.

After the controversy, Garma prohibited the anti-narcotics teams of the 11 police stations under the CCPO to operate outside their respective jurisdictions.

The police official, however, allowed her personnel to cross jurisdictions again after receiving a report about the unabated illegal drug supply in the city.

She said a drug suspect told her investigators that his fellow pushers were glad that the police were often criticized because they felt safe in selling shabu.

Garma also challenged the village officials to implement their ordinances.

Barangay captains, she said, should check if there are new personalities renting boarding houses in their respective places as they could be involved in illegal activies. /