Cop mauled by drunks in Brgy Talamban

A police officer and his cousin were beaten until unconscious by a group of men, among them minors, who had been drinking outside a convenience store in Barangay Talamban, Cebu City at 1:40 a.m. yesterday.

One of the victims, Police Officer 2 Roldan Florentino, 36, a resident of Poro, Camotes, assigned to the police station in San Francisco town, was in Cebu City to process his documents for his promotion, accompanied by his cousin, Alexon Robledo, 38, also from Poro, Camotes.

According to initial investigation conducted by Talamban Police Station headed by its chief, Senior Inspector Arieza Otida, Florentino and Robledo were at Towerville convenience store on Miñoza Street that time to buy some goods.

When they went outside, Florentino saw his motorcycle was damaged asked help from a group of men who were having a drinking spree nearby, not knowing that they were the ones who caused the damage.

But instead of getting help, the group made fun of Florentino and assaulted him, smashing him in the head with a beer bottle. Robledo was also assaulted.

According to Otida, Robledo tried to tell the group that Florentino was a police officer. He was answered with "Pulis diay ka, abusado ni," and they continued to hit the two victims until Florentino was unconscious.

The suspects took Florentino's gun and money and some of the suspects fled away in a sports car.

Florentino and Robledo were brought to Cebu City Medical Center for treatment. They were initially rushed to North General Hospital but were turned away because of failure to give down payment.

A few hours later, Ian Paul Cabarrubias, 33, along with five minors including his own son, surrendered themselves at the Osmeña Boulevard Police Station, bringing with them the gun and money they took from Florentino.

Cabarrubias, a resident of Sitio Sugarlandia, Upper Bacayan, Cebu City, is believed to be a member of Akrho.

Police continue to search for the rest of the perpetrators identified by Cabarrubias and the minors as Christian Dionson, Jefferson Dionson, Ryan Fortuna, another minor, and a certain Josh.

According to Otida, Rico Dionson, owner of the famous lechon outlet, was also seen on the CCTV (closed-circuit television) footage from the convenience store allegedly helping some of the group escape by giving them a ride.

Investigation revealed that some of the suspects are Rico's nephew. Police sent an invitation to him for interrogation but was refused.

Florentino sustained wounds and bruises to his face and body but his condition is now stable while Robledo suffered only lesser injuries.