Cop accused of mauling, pointing a gun at cook

A 54-YEAR-OLD former restaurant cook complained against a police officer who allegedly mauled him and aimed a gun at him after he was accused of stealing things inside the latter’s house in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.

Julio Taborada further accused PO1 Jerome Lendio of not paying the P15,000 house rent in the past 10 months. The lot is owned by a state university, but Taborada said he is collecting rent from the police officer because he was the one who constructed the house.

He further accused Lendio’s wife Mary Abigail of punching his live-in partner Lisa Arellano and their one-year-old daughter.

The alleged mauling happened in the evening of Aug. 1.

Mary Abigail, in a phone interview, denied they hurt Taborada, Lisa, and the girl. She said they do not owe a single cent to Taborada, saying they spent for the construction of the house.

“Wala miy utang niya. Gilungkab nila among balay (We don’t owe them anything. They broke into our house),” she said.

Mary Abigail said they filed a complaint for robbery against Taborada before the Office of the City Prosecutor.

Taborada lodged his complaint before the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division (RIDMD) 7.

Supt. Henry Biñas, RIDMD 7 chief, said Lendio will face an administrative case, while the latter’s wife can be charged with a criminal complaint.

Taborada already filed complaints against Lendio before the National Police Commission 7.

Before the incident happened past 6 p.m., Taborada said he asked Lendio to pay for the rent, which the latter failed to pay since November last year.

Lendio, however, ignored Taborada, and instead he accused the latter of stealing things inside his house.

Lendio allegedly hit Taborada with a chair before pointing a gun at the latter’s head.

The policeman also allegedly confronted Lisa, who was carrying her daughter.

Moments later, Lendio’s wife, Mary Abegail, approached Lisa and she suddenly punched her. Lisa’s daughter was accidentally hit in the left cheek.

In October last year, Lendio allegedly asked Taborada to allow him rent the latter’s vacant house. The police officer later refused to pay the rent and claimed the house, saying they are only squatters.

Mary Abigail denied this, saying it was Taborado who duped them to buy a parcel of lot, which the latter claimed to be owned by his grandfather and is already titled.