By I. Inojales | 11:47 PM August 5, 2025
TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL — Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap has issued a stern and final warning to a police officer accused of unprofessional conduct after his controversial social media post drew widespread condemnation.
Yap confirmed receiving complaints about the officer and addressed the matter directly in the presence of Lt. Col. John Kareen Escober, chief of police.
“I have given this police officer a warning—no lengthy discussions. This is his last and final warning,” Yap said.
“Our police officers, who are entrusted by the people, must never abuse their authority. We remind them of their mission: to serve and protect the people of Tagbilaran,” she added.
The controversy erupted after a Facebook post by Police Staff Sergeant Ronald Torrejos went viral, sparking outrage for its perceived mockery of students from upland barangays returning to the city for the start of classes.
In the post, Torrejos referred to these students as “botsokoy,” a derogatory term, and suggested they cause disturbances in the city during school opening days. He specifically mentioned Bool Junction, a busy intersection, as a place where these students allegedly “show off” and create noise.
“Tomorrow, a lot of ‘botsokoy’ from the mountains will arrive because it’s the start of classes! They’ll show off again at Bool Junction and make noise here in Tagbilaran,” Torrejos wrote in his post.
Torrejos, who has 390,000 followers on Facebook, faced immediate backlash from netizens, youth groups, and community leaders who condemned the post as discriminatory and disrespectful.
“This is pure discrimination. Students from the mountains deserve respect, not mockery,” one netizen commented.
Critics said such remarks only serve to deepen social divides and discourage students from rural areas who are striving to get an education in the city. Several local youth organizations have demanded that Torrejos issue a public apology.
Late Tuesday night, Torrejos posted an apology, though many called for further accountability.
As of this writing, authorities and education officials have not yet released official statements, but calls for respect and inclusivity online continue to trend under the hashtag #RespectAllStudents.
