5 policemen relieved over radio reporter’s arrest
MANILA, Philippines — Five policemen involved in the arrest of a radio reporter were relieved from their posts, the Manila Police District (MPD) said Monday.
According to Lt. Col. Roberto Mupaz, of the MPD Public Information Office, among the five relieved policemen is Pandacan’s Beata Police Community Precinct commander Lt. Joel Piñon.
The other four police officers are Senior Master Sergeant Jonathan Hernandez, Corporal Charles Bronzon Dela Torre, Patrolman Marvin Anthony Comboya, and Patrolman Jonathan Abad.
All five policemen were transferred to the MPD Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management Division while an investigation is ongoing.
Based on a statement of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines on Monday, Lorenz Tanjoco, a radio reporter from Radyo Pilipinas under PTV 4, was arrested and harassed by cops after he failed to wear his mask properly while riding his motorcycle in Pandacan, Manila City, on April 16.
When Tanjoco tried to film his arrest, the police confiscated his phone, and was told that he will face a resisting arrest complaint.
He was then handcuffed and detained for almost 10 hours.
Manila police should be held liable for arresting PTV reporter pic.twitter.com/y987W1zRNh
— NUJP (@nujp) April 19, 2021
This whole incident came even after the police were barred from arresting quarantine violators following the death of two men who were supposedly punished by law enforcers for violating quarantine protocols.
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