[wpgmappity id=”784″]
MANILA, Philippines—A policeman assigned to Camp Crame found himself in hot water for allegedly seizing a man’s motorcycle on Sunday afternoon in Quezon City.
Police Officer 1 Rogelio Nalayog, 33, underwent inquest proceedings on Monday after he drove off with a motorcycle of Michael Garcia whom he had flagged down for reasons unknown to the vehicle owner.
Nalayog was arrested after the complainant sought help from the Batasan police station, which then sent operatives to run after him.
Senior Police Officer 4 Leonardo Pasco, chief investigator of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said Nalayog was assigned with the Diplomatic Protection Unit of the Police Security and Protection Group.
On Monday afternoon, assistant city prosecutor Reuben Veradio recommended the filing of a car theft case against Nalayog and recommended a bail of P180,000.
The alleged motorcycle theft happened around 3:45 p.m. Sunday on Kalayaan Street in Barangay (village) Batasan Hills as Garcia was driving by.
The 33-year-old complainant, a resident of Barangay Pasong Tamo, said he was with his cousin when the policeman flagged him down.
At the time, Nalayog was in civilian attire with a gun tucked at the waist.
The policeman reportedly told Garcia and his cousin to remove their helmets and to produce papers for Garcia’s red Yamaha motorcycle.
Despite showing proof of his ownership, the complainant could only watch helplessly as Nalayog allegedly confiscated his motorcycle for no reason.
Garcia and his cousin went to the Batasan police station to ask for help. Nalayog was arrested after being spotted driving Garcia’s motorcycle near the police station.