MANILA, Philippines — A resident of an exclusive subdivision in Makati City would be facing multiple charges for figuring in an altercation on Sunday with a policeman who had accosted his house helper for watering the plants outside their house without a face mask .
Makati police spokesperson Maj. Gideon Ines said on Monday that they would pursue cases against Javier Salvador Parra of Dasmariñas Village and his housemaid, Cherelyn Escalante.
Among the charges to be filed against Parra were disobedience to a person in authority, direct assault and violation of Republic Act No. 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.
On top of these, he and Escalante would also be charged with violation of City Ordinance No. 2020-089, or the mandatory wearing of face masks outside the house.
Parra, who is from Spain, however, said he would also be filing countercharges against Senior Master Sgt. Roland Von Madrona of the Makati police for assaulting him, resulting in injuries.
Videos of the altercation taken by Parra’s wife and Esteban Gaan, the village watchman accompanying Madrona, quickly went viral on Monday.
The Philippine National Police, Makati Mayor Abby Binay and the Dasmariñas Village Association board, meanwhile, have ordered separate investigations of the altercation between Parra and Madrona.
PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa directed National Capital Region Police Office chief Police Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas to look into the incident while reminding the public that it was in their best interest “for the police to enforce enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) rules and local ordinances to contain the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Binay said appropriate charges should be filed against those concerned while reminding residents to observe ECQ guidelines, particularly the wearing of face masks.
Paramount concern“The law must be upheld at all times, most especially during a public health emergency where the welfare and safety of the people are of paramount concern,” city legal officer and spokesperson Michael Camiña said.
Based on Parra’s account, Escalante told him around 6 p.m. on Sunday that a policeman outside their house had asked her to pay a P1,000 fine for watering the plants without a face mask.
Parra said he confronted Madrona, telling him “that a fine isn’t necessary as it occurred on a private property.”
The policeman, however, charged at him, “trespassing [on] my private property without a valid search warrant and wanting to arrest me for no valid reason.”
In the video taken by Parra’s wife, she could be heard begging Madrona not to hurt him.
“Despite this, on my own lawn, the policeman grabbed my hands and brutally threw me to the ground and caused me physical injury and abrasions,” the resident recounted.
Madrona and Gaan eventually left after he ran inside his house.
According to the Makati police, Madrona and Gaan chanced upon Escalante watering the plants “outside the perimeter property without a face mask.”
“[The] police officer politely introduced himself and advised the housemaid to wear her face mask for her safety,” a police report said, adding that moments later, Parra and his wife came out of the house, with the former “arguing with the policeman and even challenging [him on] how to properly implement the ECQ.”
Unfazed and cool
The Makati police noted that Madrona remained “unfazed and cool, while trying to explain and reminding Parra to follow the law.” The policeman even told Parra to put on a face mask and go to the barangay hall to resolve the matter.
Rossana Hwang, Barangay Dasmariñas chair, appeared to side with the police, describing Parra as drunk during the altercation.
“He even pointed a dirty finger at Madrona and told him to go to Tondo and get out of his house,” she said in her statement to the police.
Hwang expressed surprise the incident was reported to media as the parties had already settled the matter before barangay officials.
Madrona was assigned to the village to help implement the ECQ guidelines.
The Dasmariñas Village Association board, meanwhile, said it would be conducting its own investigation and would take appropriate action, “keeping in mind the balance that must be struck between our residents’ rights and the government’s COVID-19 response.”
“If you feel that the barangay sanctioned law enforcement officers are acting unjustly, please do not escalate the situation and do your part in reducing the tension,” it added.