MANILA, Philippines (PNA) - The Office of the Ombudsman (Ombudsman) on Thursday ordered the filing of criminal charges ranging from slight to serious physical injuries against five police officers for mauling persons while in their custody.

In separate resolutions, the Ombudsman ordered the filing of charges for slight physical injuries under Article 266 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) against PO1 Jeremias Geromo of the Carcar Police Station in Carcar, Cebu and PO3 Gerald Gaddi of the Manila Police District (MPD).

Geromo was accused of hitting the head and mouth of Mamerto Amorante, then detained at the Moalboal Police Station, in Carcar, Cebu on Nov. 17, 2005.

On the other hand, Gaddi was accused of mauling complainant, Gilbert de Jesus, without any reason on Nov. 1, 2005 at Plaza Moriones, in Tondo, Manila.

De Jesus said that he was brought to a police precinct where he was mauled again. He was then brought to a hospital for medical check-up and was thereafter charged with resisting arrest.

In another case, the Ombudsman ordered the filing of charges for less serious physical injuries under Article 265 of the RPC and artbitrary detention under Article 124 of the RPC against SPO2 Danilo Yema of the Lipa City Police Station.

In his complaint, Ronnie Vergara said he was cutting grass in his backyard on Sept. 11, 2005 when Yema and another police officer arrived and forcibly took him to the police station.

Vergara said that while he was being dragged along the alley, Yema repeatedly hit his nape and kicked him occasionally until complainant was ultimately struck with a gun on the head which required stitching.

He also said that Yema continued with his assault from the time he alighted from the car to the police station until he was taken inside.

His brother, Ismael, tried to intervene to prevent Yema from inflicting further harm but was also ordered detained.

On the other hand, Police Insp. Dante Yang and SSgt. Dionisio Lim, both of the Quezon City Police District, in Camp Karingal, Quezon City, were ordered charged with serious physical injuries and arbitrary detention for mauling and arresting Laureano Casado without legal ground.

In his complaint, Casado said he was eating in a restaurant on March 25, 2006 when the respondents collared and forced him to ride their van where he was mauled.

The respondents then brought him to Camp Karingal where he was detained. The complainant was only released in the afternoon of March 26, 2006.