Cop who stopped traffic for ‘VIP’ reinstated

FILE PHOTO: Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte. INQUIRER FILES

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has reinstated the police officer caught in a viral video stopping traffic at a busy intersection in the city for a still unidentified very important person (VIP), according to Mayor Joy Belmonte.

Belmonte on Tuesday thanked QCPD director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan for undoing the relief of Executive Master Sgt. Verdo Pantollano, who drew flak for halting traffic flow at the corner of Commonwealth and Tandang Sora Avenues reportedly to give way to the VIP. It was caught on video that went viral on Oct. 5. Pantollano was immediately relieved.

QCPD explained that Pantollano mistakenly heard the word “VP” and assumed Vice President Sara Duterte was the VIP.

“Our rank-and-file personnel should not be the scapegoats for the higher-up’s accountability. It should be the one who ordered him to stop the traffic flow that should be investigated,” Belmonte said.

She also maintained that she remained clueless as to who this VIP was.

OVP’s response

“The local police do not make decisions without our knowledge, but in this case, we are really left in the dark. Until now, the QCPD has not told me the identity of the VIP,” the mayor said.

The Office of the Vice President said Duterte, who is concurrent education secretary, was in Mindanao on Oct. 5 for activities related to the celebration of World Teacher’s Day.

The QCPD also apologized to Duterte.

It has remained unclear when the incident caught on video took place.

However, according to a report on Net 25 aired Oct. 9, Duterte made a courtesy visit to Eduardo Manalo, executive minister of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), at the INC central office on Commonwealth Avenue on Oct. 2, three days before the viral video was released. INQ