Cop in viral video faces raps for ‘hurting’ two minors

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) filed a criminal complaint last Monday against a police officer for the alleged maltreatment of two minors in Barangay 30 here last week.

Charges for physical injuries in relation to violation of Republic Act 7610 or Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act were filed before the City Prosecutor’s Office against Police Staff Sergeant Harry Gonzaga, 40, of Barangay 30.

The case stemmed from the complaint of two boys aged 12 and 13, alleging that Gonzaga got mad and hurt them when the latter’s car parked in the said village was hit by a stone that they were playing with last July 10.

The incident reached the attention of Senator Raffy Tulfo when the guardians of the kids reported the incident to the senator’s radio/online program.

The case was handled by the village chief in an attempt to settle the dispute of both parties at the barangay level, but the guardians of the complainants decided to press charges against the policeman.

Police earlier said that the minors, who were accompanied by their guardians, filed a complaint before Police Station 6, but Gonzaga has not filed a complaint against the kids at the police station.

Police Captain Judesses Catalogo, public information officer of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo), said Gonzaga has been relieved from the 1st Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company based in Silay City because he’s now on schooling for public safety juniorship course.

Catalogo said that based on the latest information they have, Gonzaga is on in-house schooling at the satellite office of Regional Training Center (RTC)-6 in Murcia town.

This means that he’s now assigned to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU)-6 in Iloilo City, he added.