ILOILO City – Former Iloilo police director Cornelio Salinas accused the National Police Commission (Napolcom) Region 6 director of berating him in public.
Salinas and Napolcom regional director Joseph Celis had an altercation in the famous Madge Café at the La Paz public market on Saturday.
Salinas said he entered the coffee shop at around 8 a.m. and saw Celis and friends sitting at a table.
He looked around and passed by Celis but the latter suddenly shouted at him, “Ano tulok-tulok mo? Ngaa nagakadlaw-kadlaw ka gid (What are you looking at? And what’s so funny)?” said Salinas.
The former Iloilo Police Provincial Office director said he will consult his lawyer on the possible charges he could file against Celis.
“I was shocked by his approach,” Salinas told Panay News in a phone interview. “It is not unusual for anyone to look around when entering any place. What’s wrong with looking at him?”
“I was surprised when he shouted while pointing his finger at me,” Salinas added. “He is a public official. He is supposed to act professionally. I explained to him calmly but he kept on shouting.”
Police Officer 2 Alejandro Evangelista and lawyer Edgar Gil who were sitting at another table tried to pacify Celis, “pero sige man siya gihapon waras kag saruso sa akon,” said Salinas.
The Napolcom official denied that he confronted Salinas first.
“I wondered why he (Salinas) was looking at me sharply,” Celis said.
“Una niya (Salinas) ako nga ginsitá, nagbalos lang ako kay masakit iya panulok sa akon. Nangape lang ako para mag-relax, indi [para] mangita away,” he added.
Celis said he and Salinas had a misunderstanding when the latter was still the Iloilo police director but could not recall what it was about exactly.
“What he (Salinas) was claiming was exaggerated. I never looked at him sharply – sia ang nagtulok sa akon sang naglabay sia,” Celis said./PN
