Cop in road scuffle risks more raps

The policeman who challenged a truck driver to a fistfight last Friday may face additional administrative sanctions should he fail to appear before his superior and explain the incident.

Police Regional Office-7 Director, Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño, said the policeman, PO3 Renato Inot, has already been directed to report to his superior, Senior Superintendent Robert Alanas, the chief of the Mandaue City Police Office, but he has not done so as of yesterday.

If Inot continues to disrespect the directive, he will be declared absent without official leave (AWOL) and insubordination of a lawful order.

Inot has already been re-assigned to the City Intelligence Branch following Friday's incident.

Also, Taliño said he has ordered Alanas to file criminal and administrative complaints against Inot for his unbecoming action as a law enforcement officer.

Included in the criminal complaint, he said, is Inot's companion at that time, a certain Sala Alonzo, his relative, who was seen carrying a firearm in the video.

Taliño said Inot is facing a possible dismissal from service if investigation finds him guilty.

The incident happened at around 5:30 p.m. last Friday in front of a private school along A.C. Cortes in Mandaue City.

Inot was driving his motorcycle with a companion and was trying to overtake the truck driven by Crispen Ricarte, 25. However, every time Inot would want to take over, the truck would not let him.

Along A.C. Cortes, Inot eventually took over the truck, stopped, went down, and challenged Ricarte to a fistfight.

Ricarte was with his supervisor, Leonardo Orcullo, 27, heading to their office in Cebu City. The two are employees of an aircon maintenance company.

The incident was recorded and the video went viral on social media.

Taliño admitted seeing the video.

The MCPO has already identified Inot's companion at that time — Adelcos Alonzo, 45, the policeman's first- degree cousin who also lives in Sitio Seabreeze, Barangay Mactan, LapuLapu City.

Alanas said a team was formed specifically to find Inot and his cousin.

He said they received a report that the two are in Medellin, Cebu and personnel have been sent to the town to verify the information.

Two firearms were issued under Inot's name — an M-16 rifle and a .9mm Glock.

Alanas said only the M-16 rifle was turned over to his office since it was housed in MCPO and he is yet to confirm if the .9mm Glock was the firearm he used in threatening the two victims.

"We will observe police operational procedure, kung manlaban," Alanas said.

"(They) should show up and paliwanag yung side nila. Sagutin nila yung reklamo. Mas maganda kung maririnig ang side nila," he said.