Tarlac cops in abuse video under 'restrictive custody,' to face admin charges

Three policemen were placed under "restrictive custody" and are now facing administrative charges after video footage showing them using excessive force on a man went viral on the internet.

 

PO3 Fernando Acosta, PO3 Ritchel Antonio and PO2 Gerardo Bermudez were placed under "restrictive custody" of the Tarlac Provincial Police, GMA News' Chino Gaston reported on GMA News TV's News to Go on Tuesday.

 

According to the Philippine National Police, the incident was clearly a case of abuse. "Puwede naman ding gumamit ang pulis natin ng masasabi nating reasonable force. Sapat para i-restrain o i-control natin 'yung tao. Pero 'yun nga, wala namang kadahilanan para gumamit ka ng excessive na puwersa laban sa iyong tao na hinuhuli," PNP spokesman, Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. said in the television report. 

 

The video, uploaded by an unidentified source, shows three cops attempting to calm down a man in an orange shirt, identified as Jimmy Gregorio, of Mababanaba, Tarlac City. Gregorio had reportedly been drunk and causing trouble.

 

 

At first, the cops were only speaking with Gregorio, but after a while, one cop was seen pushing Gregorio. Another cop was seen kicking Gregorio while another punched him, causing him to fall. Another cop repeatedly punched Gregorio while he was on the ground.

 

Claiming that they were only performing their duty, the cops said they hurt Gregorio only because he had hurt them first, the report said.

 

“It must be understood that the video footage provided only limited information of what really happened on March 4, 2013 when PO3 Fernando Acosta, PO3 Ritchel Antonio and PO2 Gerardo Bermudez were effecting the arrest of Jimmy Gregorio, a native of Mababanaba, Tarlac City," Cerbo said in a news release.

 

Cerbo said an investigation has been conducted by the Paniqui Municipal Police Station, where the policemen seen on the video are assigned. 

 

According to Paniqui Municipal Police Station chief of police Superintendent Miguel Gusman, the three policemen were responding to a call for police assistance regarding an unruly person under the influence of liquor who was creating trouble, the PNP said in a news release.  

According to PNP, the incident appeared to be the reaction of the arresting police officers to subdue and restrain Gregorio, who has since been charged for direct assault and physical injuries filed before the Municipal Trial Court of Paniqui, Tarlac docketed under Criminal Case number 19-2013.

 

Gusman said Gregorio’s assault on the cops resulted in injuries to PO3 Antonio, as duly certified by a physician through a medical certificate, the PNP release said. 

 

"At any rate, investigations will continue to determine possible lapses in procedural actions in effecting arrests," PNP said. — Carmela G. Lapeña/RSJ, GMA News