Probe launched into expat-cop row inside posh Makati village over ECQ breach

MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will conduct an investigation into the altercation between a policeman and a foreign resident of an executive village.

The probe was launched following the orders of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa, the police force’s spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said in a statement on Monday.

“It is in the best interest of public health, order, and safety that the PNP is enforcing ECQ rules and local ordinances to contain the spread of COVID-19,” he said.

Two videos recently circulated on social media, one of which showed a foreign national, identified as Javier Salvador Parra, having a heated argument with a police officer, the other one showed the police officer tackling the foreigner to the ground and arresting the resident.

READ: WATCH: Foreign national arguing with cop gets tackled to the ground

Before the incident, the police officer allegedly apprehended Parra’s female house staff for watering plants outside without wearing a face mask. Parra claimed that the policeman was asking for a P1,000 fine.

During the altercation, Parra, who was naked from the waist up and was also not wearing a face mask, hurled expletives at the police officer.

The cop tried to arrest Parra but the latter was able to evade apprehension by going inside his house.

Due to the incident, Makati Police is preparing charges against Parra, Banac said.

“Let me emphasize that Police operations to enforce the law are strictly guided by the Revised Police Operational Procedures that every police officer making arrests or police intervention should strictly observe,” Banac said.

“Observance of the Police Operational Procedures establishes presumption of regularity in the performance of duty in any police operation,” he added.