By Jennifer P. Rendon
An 18-year-old boy lad accused a rookie police officer and two other men of beating him up evening of April 11, 2021 in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.
Jade Eldren Sulleza, a resident of Barangay Barasan Oeste, Sta. Barbara town, claimed that Patrolman Kenneth Sobredo and the latter’s two male companions manhandled him 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Rodriguez Street, Barangay Zone 2, Sta. Barbara.
The complainant claimed he suffered hematoma and abrasions on several parts of his body as a result of the incident.
Major Raymond Celoso, Sta. Barbara police chief, confirmed that Sulleza reported the incident 8:15 p.m. Sunday.
The teenager claimed that he went to the boarding house of his uncle, Anthony Sulleza, to bring a motorcycle helmet.
As he was about to leave the area, Richard Sobredo, Patrolman Sobredo’s uncle, suddenly closed the steel gate which pinned his foot.
This sparked a heated confrontation between the two.
At the height of their argument, Jade Eldren claimed he saw Richard pulling something from his waist.
Jade Eldren said he immediately fled thinking that it could have been a weapon.
But shortly later, three persons – including the policemen – arrived.
Patrolman Sobredo allegedly shouted at him, “Pundo. Pulis ni. Tiruhon ta kaw karon (Stop. I’m a cop. I will shoot you).”
Jade Eldren said he still ran away but one of the policeman’s companions caught up with him.
He said the three men then manhandled him. While he was being punched by the two, whom he later identified as Jade Souribio and Winston Solis, Patrolman Sobredo allegedly choked and punched his head.
In another blotter report, Anthony Sulleza filled in the gap in Jade Eldren’s story.
He said that when his nephew and Richard were having an argument, he tried to reproach the latter while telling Jade Eldren to just go home.
But the confrontation shifted between Anthony and Richard.
Anthony said Richard took a bamboo pole and attempted to strike him but he parried the attack.
When Jade Eldren saw the episode, he went back and pacified them, Anthony said.
Richard allegedly fell to the pavement as Anthony parried more attacks.
He claimed that he does not have a good relationship with Richard after he declined to allow the latter to “tap” to his electrical connection.
Meanwhile, Anthony claimed that Patrolman Sobredo arrived and saw his uncle fall.
He and his two other companions immediately ran after Jade Eldren who was running away.
This was when the manhandling happened.
A retired policeman identified as a certain Normal Espina, allegedly meddled for the group to stop mauling Jade Eldren.
Espina was allegedly at a wake near the place of incident.
Meanwhile, Richard also lodged a complaint around 8:45 p.m. of Sunday at Sta. Barbara Police Station.
He claimed he was inside about to close the gate but he heard Jade Eldren saying, “insa, sin-o gid timo haw?! (Why, who are you?)”
This sparked an argument between them until Anthony pushed him to the ground. He was about to get up when the teenager punched him.
Richard did not elaborate, though, on the participation of his nephew-cop.
Meanwhile, a CCTV camera installed at the barangay hall appeared to have caught the commotion.
The footage showed Jade Eldren trying to flee from Patrolman Sobredo.
It also caught Sobredo punching the boy just outside his uncle’s boarding house.
When the group caught up with the victim, someone was seen pulling his shirt and punches were thrown.
UNDER PROBE
Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) spokesperson, said they are already investigating the incident.
Initially, Patrolman Sobredo claimed that he only went to pacify the fight.
A member of the 3rd Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion based in Janiuay, Iloilo, Patrolman Sobredo entered the service in 2016.
“Whatever the outcome of our investigation, we welcome whatever legal moves the complainant would undertake,” Malong said.
Meanwhile, Jun Sulleza, the complainant’s father, claimed they would pursue criminal and administrative charges against Sobredo.
He also lamented that the policeman might have forgotten their mandate, which is to serve and protect.
