Chief: Cop in viral video may be victim of character assassination
The policeman who was accused of protecting a high-value drug personality might just be a victim of character assassination according to his immediate superior.
Pardo Police Station chief Senior Insp. Regino Maramag Jr. explained that PO3 Glenn Teogangco may have been dragged into the issue for arresting Edmund Abadilla Ramos, live-in-partner of Janice Cañeda.
Ramos was arrested in Barangay Bulacao on February 7 following a report from a concerned citizen of an ongoing drug session.
Cañeda was the woman in the video who argued with the high-value target who was bringing an M16 armalite in Barangay Bulacao. She allegedly confronted the high-value target believing that he was the one who had her partner arrested.
Cañeda and the high-value target are cousins.
The video was posted on Facebook and it went viral.
It was stated in the post that no police officer will arrest the target because he is reportedly being protected by Teogangco.
The identity of the drug personality is withheld pending his arrest.
“Yung video malicious and walang facts. Para lang sirain duon ang ating kapulisan,” Maramag said.
Teogangco was already relieved from his post and an investigation is being done by the station and the CCPO Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB).
The video was taken on February 8 but was only uploaded on March 16.
Cañeda admitted that one of her seven children took the video using a cellphone but she denied uploading it.
Maramag said Teogangco is devastated because of the incident because his family is already affected.
Cebu City Police Office director Senior Superintendent Joel Doria reiterated that they will not tolerate any form of illegal involvement.
He said that appropriate disciplinary actions will be done to those who are proven guilty.
“Ayaw muna natin mag-speculate hanggang ongoing pa rin ang investigation. Careful kami of course part yan sa hazard ng police once naman na-mention ang pangalan, dapat we take action,” Doria said.
Avila/MBG