TORCITA 'DISMISSED' FROM POLICE ROLLS

THE Internal Affairs Service (IAS) of the Philippine National Police (PNP)
has dismissed seven policemen, including two commissioned officers, who
mauled Region 7's Intelligence Division deputy police regional officer last
Jan. 11 in Goldenfields Commercial Complex in Bacolod City.

In an 11-page decision dated June 23, Senior Insp. Jessie Gascon,
IAS-Manila Prosecutors Division acting chief, ordered the dismissal of
Senior Supt. Lazaro Torcita, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)
regional chief; Insp. Joemarie Occeqo, PDEA provincial head; PDEA agents
PO3 Rodolfo Gomayao and PO1 Leo Poral; and SPO3 Romeo Ortega, SPO1 Alfredo
Salgado, and SPO1 Joel Salcedo, of the Bacolod City Police Office Station 8.

They were found guilty of mauling Chief Insp. Demosthenes Fernandez, who is
based in Cebu City.

Fernandez said the seven policemen were "adjudged guilty as charged and
meted with the penalty of dismissal from the police service."

But Fernandez said PNP Director General Hermogenes Ebdane has yet to sign
the dismissal order.

Fernandez accused the seven policemen of "unwillfully, unlawfully causing
(him) oppression through illegal grave abuse of authority and discretion,
and physical injuries."

This came after Occeqo and Poral allegedly mauled him at 3:30 a.m. last
Jan. 11 inside the Tanoshi Karaoke Bar, at the Goldenfield Commercial Complex.

The PDEA operatives were conducting a drug surveillance opweration inside
the bar, owned by the jailed big-time suspected drug lord Jose Kim "Boy"
Cuadra.

They arrested Fernandez whom they believed was not a policeman despite the
latter's insistence that he is the deputy regional head of Region 7's
Intelligence Division.

Fernandez said he was in Bacolod City to visit a friend.

He even presented to the PDEA agents two identification cards - one as
chief inspector and the other as superintendent - which prove that he is
indeed a policeman.

But the PDEA operatives nevertheless arrested him and brought him to Police
Station 8.

Torcita went to the station to verify Fernandez' identification.

At the police station, said Fernandez, the Station 8 operatives took his
Replacement Clothing Allowance worth P10,827, and $200.

Fernandez also turned over his .45 caliber pistol service firearm signed by
his commanding officer, Senior Supt. Danilo Maligalig.

He claimed he was mauled in the station.

On the other hand, Torcita said he has yet to receive a copy of the
decision. He did not comment further.