In Tondo, scared barber’s tale can spell real trouble for cop

A barber in Tondo, Manila, has lodged a criminal complaint against a policeman who owns a rival, more expensive barbershop in their community, claiming that the officer was forcing him to increase his rates to supposedly level the playing field.

Joel Figueroa, 37, alleged that PO3 Danilo Flores had threatened to kill him because he refused to increase his haircut fee from P40 to P50.

“He said he would kill me—and that I don’t know him well. He also challenged me to a fistfight; he said he would take his shirt off just to have a fight with me,” Figueroa said in his complaint.

Flores is assigned to the National Capital Region Police Office, according to PO3 Christopher Ryan Cruz, the Manila Police District (MPD) investigator assigned to the case.

In an interview Friday, Cruz said Flores allegedly wanted Figueroa’s fees to go higher because he’s been losing customers to the latter.

“But the complainant refused to do so because their shops cater mostly to poor people. It would be an additional burden for the residents if he increases his fees,” said Cruz, who also noted that the two shops were less than 500 meters apart.

In his complaint, Figueroa said Flores went to his shop on F. Roxas Street at least three times—on Nov. 1 and 25, and Dec. 2.—becoming “more demanding” each time.

During the first instance, the policeman allegedly ordered Figueroa to raise his rates. When he returned days later, Flores grabbed and crumpled Figueroa’s electric bill while reiterating his demand.

After their third encounter, Figueroa finally decided to go to the MPD on Dec. 3 because Flores already threatened to kill him—and it left Figueroa’s wife very scared.

Cruz said the MPD had given Flores a chance to air his side but would now charge him with grave threats after he snubbed their subpoena.