A police officer has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly trying to ram a motorcycle-riding barangay captain using his multicab while they were headed towards the same direction in Inabanga last week.
Banahao, Inabanga Barangay Captain Felipe Petalco filed an attempted murder complaint against Police Corporal Ricky Saul of the San Isidro Police Station before the Bohol Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday, said Master Sgt. Ricky Remata of the Inabanga Police Station.
“Ang allegation ani, sa dihang gadagan kuno siya sa iyang motorsiklo, allegedly si Corporal Saul kusog kaayong nagsunod niya unya mura kuno siya’g maigo. Mao mi-ambak siya sa iyang motor unya na-igo g’yud kuno iyang motor,” Remata added.
Petalco sustained several cuts on his knees and hand.
Meanwhile, Saul has denied Petalco’s allegations.
Both Petalco and Saul were reportedly in a political feud which stemmed from the previous barangay elections. Saul’s wife lost to Petalco as both ran for village chief of Barangay Banahao last year.
“Milansar iyang asawa [Saul] pag niagi pagkakapitan. Kontra ni sila,” said Remata.
Petalco alleged that he ran and hid inside a house as Saul went after him after he crashed. The barangay captain then called the police for assistance.
Remata said that the responding officers saw both men in the same area with Petalco going out of hiding as police arrived.
However, Saul said that he did not realize that it was Petalco who was in front of him while they were both driving towards the same direction.
“Kananag ilang storya mga false statement na. Ang tinuod ani, nagkasunod mi, wa ko kahibaw og siya ba to,” he said.
According to Saul, Petalco slowed down to give way for the police officer to go ahead but stopped at the left side instead of the right.
“Patugbong ko. Unya mura’g ni give way ni siya pero sa left. Kung mo give way ta kasagaran ari ta sa right…Ako ng gibrake-an, pag brake nako, kay naislide man mo, samot unta ka bunggo siya mao milihay ko, pag lihay nako sa right side kay diri man siya sa left, ang akong sakyanan mi tungas sa bakilid,” he added.
The police officer said that he did not go after Petalco to harm him but instead to arrange a settlement after the collision.
“Ambot nganong ni dagan siya, wa ta kahibaw unsy iyang gibati. ‘Nya pagdagan niya, ako siyang gisunod kay pagtan-aw nako sa motor, gamay ra man damage. Ang mga tagbalay pud didto nahadlok pud kay basin kuno akong hilabtan pero wa man ta ana, police gud ta. Magsabot-sabot ra unta mi kay gamay ra man unta,” said Saul.
According to Remata, the case is still set for preliminary investigation at the prosecutor’s office.
There have been no reported conflict and threats from both sides following the incident, Remata added. (Allen Doydora)