Screengrab from viral video on Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — The Pasay City government on Thursday directed the city police to investigate a police officer who is the subject of a viral video on Facebook for unholstering his handgun while evicting tenants inside a house.
“I immediately called Pasay Police chief, Col. Ericson Dilag, and directed him to investigate this matter and undertake necessary measures on the involved policeman if the evidence and facts would merit it,” City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano said in a statement.
Rubiano said the recorded video showed an altercation between a family and the police officer, who is allegedly the landlord of a house in Barangay 145.
According to Pasay Public Information Office, the uploader of the video said the heated argument happened last April 12 but they managed to publish the video on Facebook this Wednesday.
The 2-minute controversial video showed the police officer, wearing his uniform and a face mask, as he allegedly slapped one of the tenants and shouted: “Ano ni-re-reklamo mo? (What are you complaining about?).”
The policeman also drew his firearm while taunting the tenants.
Dilag said the accused policeman in the viral video is assigned at the Baclaran police station. He has already been relieved while an investigation is underway. Dilag declined to identify the police officer in the video.
The uploader of the video said they were evicted while Metro Manila is under the state of enhanced community quarantine. As they have no other place to stay in Metro Manila, they left some of their belongings in the house and walked from Pasay City to Antipolo City.
After the ECQ was lifted, they then returned to claim their belongings but learned that some have already been thrown away while the rest of their personal belongings were held in exchange for the payment of rent for two months.
The uploader of the video, however, did not mention why they were evicted by the policeman.
Rubiano reminded police officers to show compassion to those suffering from the adverse economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic amid the implementation of strict quarantine protocols.
“Our policemen should not only be in the front lines of ensuring peace and order especially in these trying times, but they must also be examples of caring and compassion toward those who are severely affected by this pandemic and who need the help of government officials and authorities the most,” she said.