Cop in viral video relieved for ‘misconduct’

Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, NCRPO director, ordered the relief of Senior M/Sgt. Arnulfo Ardales from Police Community Precinct (PCP) 3 of San Juan City based on the complaint of Aaron Estrada, a city resident. (File Photo: PIO NCRPO/Facebook)

MANILA — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Sunday immediately relieved an “abusive” cop in viral video from his post while being investigated for ‘misconduct’.

Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, NCRPO director, ordered the relief of Senior M/Sgt. Arnulfo Ardales from Police Community Precinct (PCP) 3 of San Juan City based on the complaint of Aaron Estrada, a city resident.

“The viral video in San Juan City on abusive police, pina-relieve ko na sa (I ordered him relieved from) PCP 3 of San Juan, lipat na muna siya sa (he was transferred for the meantime at) District Headquarters Support Unit (DHSU) of EPD (Eastern Police District) while being investigated,” Eleazar told the Philippine News Agency.

According to police report, the incident took place around 11 p.m. on Saturday (July 6) inside a restaurant in Barangay Ermitaño, San Juan City when Ardales accosted Estrada, a 21-year-old call center agent, for alleged disrespect to police officer.

Based on video which has now over 3,500 shares, Ardales claimed he was already buying food when Estrada arrived and put his hand in front of the cop, also to buy food.

“Thereat, said police officer uttered invectives against the complainant. Unknowingly, somebody is taking a video on the incident,” a police report read.

It appears that the Estrada was the one who took the video, prompting some netizens to comment that it was a trap to provoke the policeman.

“First come first serve kasi. Disiplinahin mo sarili mo otoy. Ikaw pa may mali ikaw pa may ganang mag-video para mapasama yung naka uniporme (You should practice first come first serve policy. Discipline your own self, boy. You committed a mistake, then you took video to put those in uniform in bad light),” a netizen commented.

Other netizens said the policeman should have put his temper in control as a respected public servant while others urged the public to wait for final results of the investigation.

Eleazar urged the public to help them in providing information against rogue police personnel as part of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) internal cleansing.

“The PNP, with our chief, Gen. (Oscar) Albayalde leading the way, is determined to rid our ranks of undeserving policemen,” he said.

He reminded all police directors, commanders, and chiefs of units and offices to properly and constantly supervise their personnel to maintain discipline and order within the ranks and ensure their compliance with all lawful orders, policies, rules, and regulations.