Two men are now facing charges after allegedly assaulting police officers shortly after the New Year’s fireworks display in Jamindan town, Capiz, on January 1, 2025.
Joah Villasis, 24, and Mark Jason Cano, 22, both from Barangay Esperanza, reportedly intoxicated, sparked the incident as they celebrated the holiday.
Villasis, a tricycle driver, had been hired to transport a neighbor to the town proper after a family member was involved in a vehicular accident, with Cano accompanying him.
The situation escalated when Villasis’s tricycle hit Corporal Apolonio Jonnel Llait Jr., who was heading back to the police station with Staff Sergeant Ezequias Villeza after fireworks display.
WATCH VIDEO HERE: A policemen allegedly assaulted by civilians in a town in Capiz
Although Llait fell off the ground, but he didn’t suffer any serious injuries.
When Llait asked Villasis for his driver’s license and vehicle registration and instructed him to proceed to the police station, Villasis resisted.
Cano intervened, allegedly kicking and punching Villeza, which trigged the confrontation.
Authorities said that the two men continued to resist, even as bystanders stepped in to extend help.
Villasis and Cano now face multiple charges, including direct assault on a person in authority and resisting arrest.
Villasis also faces an additional charge of reckless imprudence resulting in physical injury.
Both are still in police custody as of posting time.
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Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.