- SAF member involved in alleged pepper spray incident faces admin charge
A MEMBER of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) has been relieved of duty and is now facing administrative charges after allegedly pepper-spraying an official of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
During a Senate hearing on Sept. 6, Col. Rex Balimban, alongside PRO XI director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, identified the officer as Corporal Rey Lacanario from the 41st PNP SAF.
Currently, the police officer is under restricted custody in Tagum City.
KOJC legal counsel Israelito Torreon recounted that on Aug. 25, the second day of the police operation inside the compound, Lacanario pepper-sprayed a member of the KOJC’s board of administrators.
Torreon said they have already filed an affidavit complaint regarding the incident.
Senator Ronald Dela Rosa then asked Torre if he had seen the video showing the incident from behind where the police officer sprayed Eleanor Cardona.
“Have you seen the video? What do you have to say about that?” Dela Rosa asked.
Torre clarified that it was alcohol, not pepper spray, that was used and that he does not tolerate such actions.
“We immediately relieved the person and have already started the pre-charge investigation. According to him, it’s not pepper spray but alcohol spray, but I will not justify what he has done. That’s wrong,” Torre answered.
Dela Rosa then asked Cardona, “Was it alcohol that was sprayed on you? Is pepper spray painful? Does it cause redness when you’re sprayed?”
Senator Dela Rosa, who led the Senate committee hearing in Davao, was dismayed by the officer’s actions. As a former PNP chief, he admitted that the action taken against the female KOJC member was shameful.
Col. Balimban confirmed that they have already conducted a summary hearing procedure against Lacanario.
Balimban also said that at the time, Cpl. Lacanario had just woken up, which irked the senator because of the seeming justification for such an action.
Dela Rosa asked Balimban to update the committee on the case’s progress and reminded him that this does not prevent the complainant from filing criminal charges if she wishes to. The senator said that the policeman betrayed the victim.
“I’ll tell you, with the element of treachery, it’s shameful. He’s a police officer, and the victim is a woman, and elderly at that,” Dela Rosa added.
“We don’t want to have people like that in the Philippine National Police. Why couldn’t he face her and say, ‘Ma’am, what’s your problem? Let’s talk.’ He should act like a man. It was really ugly; I saw the video. We’re the police, why do we resort to that style even if you’re already aggrieved? Aren’t we well-trained? Be sure to update this committee. I myself felt offended by this action, and it spread on social media. The PNP’s image will be damaged by that,” he further said.
