Cavite cop’s bro tagged for ‘manipulating’ assault case probe – Napolcom

MANILA, Philippines — A police captain from Cavite, who is the brother of another police officer who supposedly assaulted and threatened to kill a college student, allegedly intimidated and pressured the investigator to manipulate the filing of the case against his brother, the National Police Commission (Napolcom) said.

Napolcom Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan revealed this on Thursday after noting that the cases lodged against the police officer who assaulted the student, Police Senior Master Sergeant Don Carlos Almonidovar from the General Trias Component City Police Station, were “watered down.”

The case investigator only filed grave threats and physical injuries against Almonidovar after the 20-year-old college student, identified only as alias “Ace,” reported the “assault” to the Napolcom on Wednesday.

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READ: Napolcom probes police official’s assault on college studen\

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“Bakit ito yung mga naging kaso niya? Ba’t mababa yung kaso niya, patrolman?” Calinisan asked the investigator, Patrolman Rolyn Pagayon, in a press conference on Thursday.

(Why are these the only cases filed? Why is his case so low, patrolman?)

Responding to this, the patrolman said he was supposed to file an attempted homicide case against Almonidovar since there was really “an intent to kill” when he rammed the motorcycle of the college student.

But he said that as he was conducting an investigation, the suspect’s brother, Police Captain Gerald Nikko Carlos Almonidovar, supposedly called and texted him to manipulate the case.

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“May mga sina-suggest, sir, kaya hindi talagang kung ano ang nararapat na kaso ang isinampa ko po,” the investigator said.

(There are suggestions, sir, so what I filed is not really the appropriate case.)

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When clarified by Calinisan if the police captain “pressured” him to help his brother’s case, the patrolman replied, “Yes, Sir.”

“Nahirapan kang suwayin kasi ikaw ay patrolman lamang, tama?” the Napolcom commissioner further asked, in which the partrolman also answered in the affirmative.

(It became difficult for you to disobey him because you are only a patrolman, right?)

Calinisan then showed to members of the media the screenshots of the series of text messages between the police captain and the investigator.

Based on the messages, the police captain told the investigator to include in his report that the two students were drunk and exclude that his brother was intoxicated when the incident happened.

The police captain also supposedly ordered that the video showing the incident not be released.

“Di ba klarong obstruction of justice ito?” Calinisan emphasized.

(Isn’t this clearly obstruction of justice?)

The Napolcom commissioner then directed the conduct of a motu proprio investigation against the police captain.

Following the incident, Calinisan said they will study whether cases involving police officers should be assigned to more senior and experienced investigators to prevent supposed intimidation from happening again.

‘File appropriate charges vs. cop who assaulted student’

Meanwhile, Calinisan ordered the Trece Martires City Police Station to file the appropriate charges against the police officer who supposedly assaulted the student.

He also appealed to Land Transportation Office chief Markus Lacanilao to revoke the license of the police officer for driving while intoxicated.

“Sabagay, hindi naman niya kailangan ng lisensya sa loob ng kulungan, pero baka dapat i-revoke din natin yung kaniyang lisensya kasi nag-drive siya under the influence,” he said.

(Actually, he doesn’t need a license inside the prison, but maybe we should revoke his license because he drove under the influence.)

According to the college student, the police officer allegedly rammed his motorcycle, assaulted him, struck him with a firearm, cursed at him, and threatened to kill him after he made a U-turn ahead of the officer’s car along Governor’s Drive in Barangay San Agustin in Trece Martires City at around 11:30 p.m. last Aug. 27.

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Following this, the student, along with his 19-year-old companion, was also reportedly brought to the police station to attempt to settle the dispute.  /gsg