A team leader of the regional Land Transportation Office flying squad was disarmed Thursday by the chief of the Criminal Investigation & Detection Group after a heated altercation over a CIDG asset who was arrested for a traffic violation. The LTO flying squad was patrolling along the city's highways for violation of traffic rules and regulations when the incident happened. CIDG Bohol chief Germano Mallari admitted having poked a gun on Ronald Lim, team leader of the LTO regional office after the asset was arrested for driving without license. The poking incident took place at the LTO office in Dampas district, this city.
The CIDG asset was also found to have driven a an unregistered motorcycle. The asset identified as Ruben Butalid, age unknown, was found driving without license when he was accosted by the flying squad team leader. His motorcycle was impounded by the LTO men.According to Mallari, he poked his gun on Lim to make sure that the LTO officer would not beat him to the draw. The LTO man was also armed. Subsequent interviews showed that Mallari, after poking his gun on Lim, also succeeded in disarming him. Mallari said he disarmed Lim after he learned that the flying squad team leader was posing as a CIDG agent. Lim, however, denied that he was a CIDG impostor. |
It was the CIDG asset who told Mallari about Lim's impersonification. This angered Mallari and lost no time in tracking down Lim. When confronted, Lim denied having posed as a CIDG agent. What he said when he collared the unlicensed CIDG asset was that he knew of several CIDG men in Bohol. Although Lim appeared to have made up with his CIDG tormentor, there were reports circulated around that his superiors in Cebu were contemplating to bring their case before the Office of the Ombudsman.
Meanwhile, Deputy Provincial Police Director Abner Catalla tried to broker a settlement between the two warring officials. According to both Lim and Mallari, they were summoned to appear before the office of Catalla to settle their differences. (With reports from Sen Guingguing) |
