2 Manila cops apologize for ‘blocking’ driver; Napolcom to file raps

MANILA, Philippines — The two Manila Police District (MPD) officers, who were aboard a patrol vehicle caught in a viral video allegedly blocking a motorist along Taft Avenue, apologized before the National Police Commission (Napolcom).

In a press briefing at their Quezon City office on Thursday, Napolcom Executive Officer Rafael Calinisan identified the officers as Patrolmen Jerome Toledo and Algrene Alcause, the latter of whom was supposedly the driver of the patrol vehicle during the alleged incident.

“First of all, we ask for forgiveness for what happened, especially from Sir Calinisan, the station commander, our PCP commander, the people and our fellow police officers who now view us poorly. I ask for your patience,” Alcause said at the briefing.

READ: 2 Manila cops relieved for allegedly blocking driver, cite ‘car troubles’

For his part, Toledo said, “Like my buddy said, we ask for your forgiveness.”

Both officers were assigned to the MPD Ermita Police Station.

Vlogger James Deakin shared the video on his social media on Wednesday, saying he had received it from the wife of the affected motorist.

Deakin quoted the wife as saying that the patrol vehicle allegedly cut them off along Taft Avenue near the Philippine General Hospital, prompting the motorist to blow his horn at the police.

The video showed the patrol vehicle not moving in front of the motorist while the traffic light was green and only moving just as the traffic light was about to turn red, leaving the motorist behind.

Calinisan said he met with Alcause and Toledo on Thursday initially only to seek a dialogue but felt “extremely insulted” upon learning that, in their affidavit about the incident, they cited a supposed mechanical issue with the patrol vehicle when asked why they had stalled in front of the motorist.

“We cannot not file cases. It’s clear. A picture paints a thousand words. That’s 10,000 words using that video,” the Napolcom executive officer explained.

“They will be facing administrative cases. We will continue to file admin cases. Let us see what it will do. Apart from the incident in Ermita, we have a perjured affidavit. I’m still thinking whether or not I should file cases also because they lied to my face. Extremely insulting,” he maintained.

Asked for a response, Toledo told reporters that they will defer to the investigation.

He explained that their police vehicle was initially plying Taft Avenue on a left turn only lane when an unidentified individual sought police assistance near the Philippine General Hospital, prompting them to switch lanes.

“The driver of the Toyota Vios thought we cut him off. When we switched lanes, he was there and honked his horn at us for a while. We stopped and gave way to him. We gave way to him, then he just waited for us in the middle, then we stopped together,” Toledo explained.

Calinisan noted that Alcause and Toledo’s supervisor, Ermita Police Station commander Lt. Col. Alfonso Saligumba III, would not be held liable for the incident, citing that they “did their jobs” in the investigation into the incident.

Earlier on Thursday, Saligumba told reporters in Camp Crame that he had relieved Alcause and Toledo from their posts pending investigation. /mr