Cop in ‘slapping’ video faces slap of sanctions

HOT HAND Video grabs show PO1 Edmar Costo unleashing his fury on a bus driver on Wednesday. —From Facebook post of Joel Ontong

He could have otherwise earned praise for supposedly refusing a “P100 bribe,” but his extra, heavy-handed movement turned PO1 Edmar Costo into the latest object of scorn on social media.

The rookie beat patroller from the Parañaque City police was relieved of his post on Thursday after he was caught on video slapping and threatening a bus driver whom he had flagged down for obstructing traffic.

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) identified Costo as the officer in the now viral, 23-second video which showed how he dealt with Joel Mametis, driver of a Valisno Express bus.

The NCRPO gathered that the incident happened at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the corner of Roxas Boulevard and Redemptorist Street in Baclaran, Parañaque.

Costo ordered Mametis to pull over and entered the bus so he could issue him a traffic violation ticket. Mametis allegedly refused to hand over his driver’s license and, with P100, tried to bribe Costo instead.

The video, which was taken apparently by one of the passengers, showed the officer snarling and hurling invectives at the driver before giving him two hard slaps on the face.

The rookie beat patroller is confronted by the NCRPO director, Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar.

Costo was later seen making threats as he was walking away to get off the bus.

Summoned to the NCRPO, Costo admitted that he just snapped when he realized what the driver was doing.

Still, the NCRPO director, Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, ordered Costo out of his post and had him reassigned to the Regional Headquarters Support Group, where he may face administrative sanctions for simple misconduct.

The NCRPO also tried to contact Mametis, who Eleazar said could file a criminal case of slight physical injury against Costo.

Being enraged by the alleged bribe attempt was “not an excuse” for the officer to assault the driver, Eleazar said.

“The police should never, never hurt civilians because that is contrary to our central responsibility,” he stressed.