A police officer is now under investigation for allegedly pistol-whipping a man on Sunday, May 23, in Barangay P.D. Monfort South, Dumangas, Iloilo.

Police Staff Sergeant Benjamin Gomez, a resident of the said town, was ordered to be relieved as an intelligence officer of the Tigbauan Police Station effective yesterday. He was transferred to the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).

Gomez was tagged by Jonathan Bucana of Barangay Calao, Dumangas as the one who pistol-whipped him and struck his abdomen when they met in Barangay P.D. Monfort South.

Bucana said that at around 8:30 a.m. on Sunday while he was riding on a motorcycle, the police officer flagged him down and confrontation took place which resulted to a mauling incident.

The victim’s friend then came and pacified them.

On the other hand, Gomez admitted that he pistol-whipped Bucana after the latter tried to grab his service firearm during their confrontation.

Gomez also said over a radio interview that on Saturday, May 22, he was with his relatives with his children. The victim and his friends later arrived drunk, he said.

He added that Bucana and his friends began talking and insulting him and even challenged to fire their guns.

“Gina-insulto nila ako sa mga tawo kag mga kabataan ko. Pero wala gid ako nag-react kay indi ako gusto mag-ginamo sa damo tawo kag sa atubang sang mga kabataan ko. What we did was nagpuli na lang kami kag pagka-aga ila ako ginpangita sa amon balay. Sang gin-atubang ko sila kag nagpamangkot ano ila gusto, gin-try ni Bucana agawon akon pusil, amo to nga na pistol-whip ko sia,” Gomez explained.

He said that he is willing to face the charges against him, adding he only wanted to protect himself and his service firearm.

Meanwhile, IPPO director Colonel Gilbert Gorero said that his office had already started conducting an investigation to know what really happened. (Ruby Silubrico)/WDJ