A cop from the Manila Police District (MPD) is now under investigation after pulling out a gun during a road rage incident that went viral online.
According to Jun Veneracion’s report on “24 Oras” on Friday, the incident happened in the middle of a bumper-to-bumper traffic in Santa Ana, Manila last May 12, on the day of elections.
A rider wearing a hoodie jacket suddenly took out his gun and, with his other hand, pulled on the helmet of a motorcycle taxi rider while confronting him. The hoodie-wearing man turns out to be a police officer.
The colleagues of the undercover police arrived on the scene to arrest the motorcycle taxi rider.
The MPD confirmed that the police officer in the viral video was assigned as undercover security on election day.
“Itong driver na ito nagmamadali, patuloy pong kinakalambag yung kanyang top box at pilit siyang pinapausod, pero sabi ng pulis di sya makausod dahil may truck sa harap niya,” said MPD spokesperson Police Major Philipp Ines.
(The driver was in a hurry and was hitting the top box of the undercover cop’s motorcycle, ordering him to move forward. But the police said he could not move because a truck was in front of him.)
“Ang sabi ng pulis ay ‘Ako ay pulis,’ ang sabi ng driver ‘Wala akong pakialam kung pulis ka, umalis ka dyan sa harapan’,” he added.
(The police said that he’s a police officer, but the driver retorted that he doesn’t care about his position.)
The police officer is now under restrictive custody after surrendering his gun. He is also facing administrative charges and could face criminal charges if the motorcycle taxi rider decides to file a complaint.
However, the MPD defended the arrest made by two of its uniformed personnel because of the initial violation of unjust vexation.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police chief Rommel Marbil has ordered an investigation into the incident, warning that there will be no more second chances for abusive policemen.—Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News
