CAMP DANGWA, Benguet – The Police Regional Office (PRO)-Cordillera assailed an elected official of Dolores, Abra for mauling a rookie policeman just because he reminded the official to follow the curfew hours being implemented to guard against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
PRO-Cordillera director Police Brig. Gen. R’win Pagkalinawan condemned in the strongest terms the act of Dolores Sangguniang Member Russ Zapata and his companions for attacking Police Patrolman Lowie Gie Itchon and taking his service firearm.
Zapata and his companions reportedly vented their ire on Itchon after he reminded them to heed the curfew hours being implemented by the government.
“We will not allow these things to happen, especially to our personnel who should be working hard to keep our community safe,” Pagkalinawan said.
Pagkalinawan said he has instructed the director of the Abra PPO to conduct an impartial investigation on the matter.
The legal department of PRO-Cordillera was also mobilized to provide assistance to Abra PPO for the filing of appropriate charges against Zapata and his companions.
Initial investigation showed that Zapata, along with his companions, attacked Itchon and took his service firearm after the latter reminded them of the curfew hours.
Based on the official report of Abra PPO, on the night of Jan. 1, Police Patrolwoman Phoebe Chumanao was driving her motorcycle in Poblacion, Dolores, when she heard somebody shout at her. This prompted her to drive back, and then she saw two men, one of them Zapata.
Chumanao reminded them that the curfew hour was from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. in the town, but Zapata instead challenged Chumanao and even pointed a finger at her.
Chumanao left the place and returned to the Dolores MPS.
Later that night, Itchon and Chumanao, while conducting mobile patrol, saw the group of Zapata at the Piddi pancitan and reminded them of the curfew hours.
Instead of going home, Zapata reportedly attacked Itchon with the aid of a certain Jaja Turqueza and their other companions.
The group allegedly held the policeman’s two arms to his back, while punching his face and other parts of his body. At the same time, a certain Jong Jong Turqueza took Itchon’s service firearm.
