Cop tagged in beating up 12-year-old in Pasay City

A 12-year-old boy suffered cuts and bruises on his face after he was allegedly beaten up by a policeman in Maricaban, Pasay City.

A 24 Oras report by Vonne Aquino on Thursday identified the victim as Mark.

Mark said he just passed by the area where Police Officer 3 Ferdinand Dator was drinking alcohol when the latter suddenly hit and strangled him.

"Bigla niya akong binasal, sinakal... ginanon niya ko tapos binuhusan niya ako tatlong beses tapos tinulak niya ko sa pader, sinakal niya akong ganon... nilublob 'yung mukha ko. Pagtulak sa akin dun ulit sa ano, doon na pinukpok mukha ho," Mark said.

The victim revealed it was not the first time the policeman hit him. He said he had no idea why the policeman often beat him using slippers.

"Hindi ko po alam, lagi nga po ko pinapalo ng tsinelas nun eh. Hindi ko naman siya binibiro pero lagi niya akong binibiro," Mark said.

Mark's two older brothers saw the incident and saved him from the hands of Dator.

"Hahawakan niya 'yung bote na kalahati tapos doon ko inano, 'Teka lang, Sir wag yan. Bote 'yan nakakamatay 'yan.' Tinapon niya," Mark's brother said.

"Nung inangat ko 'yung mukha niya, parang wala na po siyang malay nung nakita ko siya. Binuhat ko po siya tapos tumawag po ako ng sidecar," his other sibling added.

Barangay officials immediately brought the victim to the hospital.

Authorities also went to the house of Dator, however, the policeman was not there.

Meanwhile, Mark's mother revealed that it was not the first time that the cop hit a child.

"Hindi lang po anak ko ang nasasaktan niya, marami na wala lang magulang na nagrereklamo kasi takot sa kanya," the mother said.

"Kung pwede nga lang po kung ako ang may baril, ako na babaril eh para kahit hindi na siya makulong, Ma'am," she added.

Barangay captain Evan Basinillo said he already received reports on Dator's behavior.

"Walang formal complaint pero 'yung reklamo nila sa akin na 'Kap, binatukan ako,' Ganito sabi ko, 'Magreklamo kayo sa akin, ipapatawag natin si Sir Dator,'" Basinillo said.

The report said the family of Mark has filed a child abuse complaint against the suspect.

Meanwhile, in a separate police report, Police Senior Superintendent Richard Saavedra, battalion commander of the District Public Safety Battalion of the Southern Police District (SPD), said Dator was relieved from his post.

Saavedra said Dator presented himself this morning and surrendered his service weapons, Philippine National Police (PNP) identification card and badge.

SPD director Chief Superintendent Tomas Apolinario immediately ordered the Pasay City police to conduct background information on Dator. The SPD also conducted drug test on the accused policeman.

"The SPD leadership will not tolerate such actuations, if indeed our personnel have done wrong, we appeal to the parents of the minor victim to file a case against him. Once the criminal case have been filed, then, that would be the time for us to take cognizance of the administrative case," Apolinario said. —Anna Felicia Bajo with a report from Amita Legaspi/NB, GMA News