The owners of the Duli Beach Resort in El Nido denied that their two security guards fired their guns on June 1 as claimed by the town police.
Elenita Pe-Dangan, the owner of the resort, said in an interview with Palawan News that it was even their security supervisor, Alfe Olitan Damiar, who was allegedly “hurt” by the police personnel.
“Sabi sa akin ng mga guwardiya, ‘yong pinaka-lider nila doon, mga alas kuwatro raw ng madaling araw ay pumunta raw doon ‘yong mga pulis. Bale apat po kasi ang guwardiya, ‘yong isa nasa beach resort, ‘yong tatlo nandito sa amin banda ‘yon. “Yong dalawang guwardiya namin kinuha nila (mga pulis),” she said.
These security guards were Rico Barrun, 32, a resident of Brgy. Pasadeña, and Angel Regala, 35, a resident of Brgy. Villa Paz.
At around 5:30 a.m. on June 1, Dangan said Damiar told her that when he went to the resort, there was a person who called him but he ignored the man because he did not recognize that he was a policeman.
Damiar allegedly told her that this man was in camouflage pants and had no shirt on.
“Tamang tama mga 5:30 a.m. dumating naman ‘yong pinaka-team leader nila [ng mga security guards], ngayon sinisit-sitan siya [ng mga pulis]. Hindi raw siya huminto kasi hindi niya akalain na pulis pala ‘yong tumawag sa kanya kasi naka-camouflage na pantalon pero wala raw T-shirt. Nakahubad lang ‘yong tumawag sa kanya sinenyasan siya pinapunta siya sa barracks nila para kausapin. Kinuha raw ‘yong mga record books nila, documents nila, at mga hawak nila na mga papel,” Dangan said.
She said the El Nido Municipal Police Station’s (MPS) report, which came out as a news story in Palawan News on June 2, is not true.
She claimed that the incident was due to a land property dispute near Duli Beach in Brgy. Bucana.
Dangan said a land property they sold to a new owner was the cause of the issue as it is also being claimed by the Ulson family.
She said the Ulson family constructed a fence around the property but this was demolished last week by the barangay security force of Bucana with the permission of the new owner.
Dangan said that the Ulson family was angered by this and reported to the municipal police that it was their two security guards who led the demolition team.
She said the security guards were in the area and only witnessed the demolition, but they were not part of the barangay security force that removed the fence.
“Yong pinaka-lider [ng mga security guards] sinaktan din nila. Wala pong gulo, walang putok na gaya ng sinasabi nila (mga pulis) na nagpaputok,” Dangan said.
In a separate interview with Damiar on Tuesday, he was unable to identify the police who was half-naked on June 1, but he confirmed that the officer who “hurt and cursed” him was PMaj. Thirz Starky Timbancaya.
He said he only introduced himself later as “Chief Timbancaya” of the El Nido Municipal Police Station (MPS).
“Habang paparating ako [sa barracks], tumayo ang isang naka-unipormeng pulis sa kanyang pagkakaupo, parang tumatakbo papunta sa akin, galit na galit. Malayo pa lang dinuduro na ako, pinagmumura din ako at maraming mga salitang masasakit,” Damiar said.
Damiar said Timbancaya asked him, “Ikaw ba yong nagbaklas ng bakod? Nag-utos para baklasin ang bakod?”
He said he told Timbancaya that it was not him but the new owner and the barangay security force.
“Ang sabi ko hindi ako kung hindi iyong may-ari at mga barangay tanod,” Damiar said.
After this conversation, Timbancaya allegedly punched him on the chest and uttered more expletives.
He said they apologized to Timbancaya for not knowing he was a police officer, but he reiterated they were not the ones who demolished the fence of the Ulson family but the new owner.
Timbancaya has not answered any of Palawan News’ several calls to give his side regarding this story.
