HPG cops accused of mauling MMDA traffic personnel

Two Highway Patrol Group (HPG) personnel have been recalled from their posts on Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) after a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic personnel accused the cops of mauling him last Tuesday.

Chief Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao, PNP HPG chief, identified policemen in the complaint as Senior Inspector Joel Maranion and SPO2 Norman Interino.

The complainant went to HPG headquarters in Camp Crame to file administrative charges against Maranion and Interino after they allegedly assaulted MMDA traffic auxiliary Leon Trinidad at a U-turn slot along Edsa-Quezon Avenue in Quezon City.

But Gunnacao said they are still investigating the allegations the MMDA personnel made against his officers.

“The complaint is under investigation. The HPG officers have also been recalled from their posts and were ordered to report to the HPG headquarters as we look into the circumstances surrounding the incident,” Gunnacao told the media on Thursday.

In a sworn statement made by Trinidad, he said Maranion and Interino beat him up around 8:30 p.m. Thursday when he failed to give them the driver’s license that an HPG officer confiscated from a traffic violator.

Trinidad said he was tasked by the HPG cops to bring the licenses of apprehended motorists to another traffic constable, who will issue the Unified Ordinance Violation Receipt.

Trinidad stated that Mark Nicolas, a traffic violator, demanded for his driver’s license which was confiscated by an HPG cop. But the MMDA personnel “politely told” Nicolas that the license is not with him.

Nicolas then sought assistance from other HPG officers, who, in turn, told the motorist to claim his license from Trinidad.

Trinidad said the HPG officers kept insisting that he had the Nicolas’ license. “They were so mad. They even threatened me,” he added.

When Maranion and Interino arrived at the area to talk with two other traffic enforcers, Interino suddenly hit Trinidad on the chest with his helmet.

Maranion then kicked Trinidad in the legs and hit him with his handheld radio. They also took the IDs of Trinidad and two other MMDA traffic personnel before they left.

The MMDA said they will not tolerate abusive HPG personnel.

“We will not let this thing happen to our people who are merely doing their jobs,” Emerson Carlos, MMDA Assistant General Manager for Operations, said. Julliane Love de Jesus/JE