MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police General Oscar Albayalde on Sunday said he had ordered the relief of a policeman for allegedly threatening to arrest a man for “disrespecting” him, which was caught on video and went viral online.
Albayalde said the incident happened on Saturday night in San Juan City.
“Para po sa inyong kaalaman ipinatanggal ko na po sa puwesto ang pulis na nag-viral sa San Juan. Sa report sa akin, kinilala siya na si PSMS Arnulfo Ardales,” Albayalde said in a Facebook post.
“Ayon sa reklamo ni Aaron Estrada, nagalit si PSMS Ardales dahil sa pambabastos umano niya habang bumibili at nagbanta sa kanya,” Albayalde added.
In the video, an enraged Ardales can be seen shouting and cursing at a store after Estrada allegedly blocked him while buying.
Ardales then asked for Estrada’s ID, and asked the man to come with him for “disrespecting” him.
“Nasan ang ID mo? Ang bastos mo sa pulis ah. Bumibili ako, haharangan mo ko? Tarantado ka pala eh,” Ardales said.
“Sumama ka sakin,” Ardales added, as Estrada asked for a reason why he was being asked to come with the cop.
“Bakit ako sasama? Wala naman ako ginagawa ah?” Estrada said.
“Binabastos mo ako ‘di ba? Papalag ka? Wag mo ko babastusin,” Ardales responded.
“Bumibili ako tapos sasapawan ako nyan (Estrada)?” the cop added.
Before leaving the store, Ardales also said that Estrada is already “marked” with him.
Albayalde said the incident was reported to him, prompting him to relieve Ardales from his post.
“Agad po itong nakarating sa atin kaya agad na ipinatanggal ko sa puwesto si PSMS Ardales na ngayon ay nasa District Headquarters Service Unit ng EPD (Eastern Police District),” Albayalde said.
“Patuloy po ang imbestigasyon sa insidenteng ito,” Albayalde added. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)