BACOLOD City – A personnel of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) is facing a criminal complaint for violation of Republic Act 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. He allegedly hurt two minors in this city, as shown in a social media viral video.
The respondent, Staff Sergeant Harry Gonzaga, 40, is assigned to the 1st Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company in Silay City.
NOCPPO Public Information Office chief Captain Judesses Catalogo said on Tuesday that the case was filed by the Bacolod City Police Office Women and Children Protection Desk before the City Prosecutor’s Office.
“Since the case has already been filed, we are prevented from giving comments and updates,” he added.
Catalogo said Gonzaga is currently under the jurisdiction of the Regional Police Holding and Accounting Unit as he is attending further studies in the Regional Training Center 6 (Western Visayas) satellite in Murcia town.
Based on the charge sheet filed by Police Station 6 here, two boys, aged 12 and 13, were allegedly assaulted by Gonzaga, who got angry when they hit his vehicle with a stone while playing in Barangay 30 on the evening of July 10.
Closed-circuit television footage that has gone viral shows the police officer punching the two minors by the roadside. (PNA)
