MANILA, Philippines — The police officer responsible for halting traffic flow along Commonwealth corner Tandang Sora Avenue to allegedly let the convoy of Vice President Sara Duterte pass through has been relieved from his post, according to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).
QCPD issued a statement and likewise apologized after the video of a police officer identified as a certain Sergeant Pantallano went viral on social media Thursday afternoon.
“We would like to apologize for the inconvenience we have brought to the motoring public due to the stopping of the traffic flow along Commonwealth westbound,” the QCPD said in a statement.
“That the said incident stemmed from a confusion and lapse in judgment of our policeman (Pantallano) manning the traffic during that time,” it added.
According to QCPD, Pantallano “overreacted” and cleared the traffic “as a sign of courtesy and security” when he mistakenly heard the word “VP” and assumed that Vice President Sara Duterte would pass through the area.
Duterte, however, has no engagement in the area.
Sinarado ang isa sa pinaka busy na kalsada sa bansa dahil tatawid ang isang ViP? Grabe naman yan.
Sent to me by an ex-military man. pic.twitter.com/hybUl2vo9y
— Teddy Casiño (@teddycasino) October 5, 2023
The vice president had been in Agusan del Norte since Wednesday. She attended the 122nd Police Service Anniversary of the Philippine National Police Regional Office 13 and the World Teachers’ Day Celebration on Thursday.
“Ako po ay humihingi ng paumanhin sa aking maling nagawa. Patawarin nyo po ako, at akala ko po talaga may dadaan na VIP,” Pantallano was quoted as saying in the QCPD statement.
(I apologize for my mistake. Forgive me, I thought a VIP will pass through.)
“I have ordered the relief of my policeman and put him under investigation to determine administrative liability for his actions. We assure the public that this incident will not happen again,” Holy Spirit Police Station commander Lt. Col. May Genio said.
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