3 cops in traffic row fired as video goes viral

Three policemen — brothers both in blood and in arms — found themselves relieved of their posts after they were caught on video threatening a motorist following a minor traffic dispute.

Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde on Tuesday ordered the relief of PO3 Ralph Soriano and his brothers, Police Officers 1 Rendel and Reniel Soriano, who face administrative charges for grave threats and intimidation.

In a now-viral video posted on Facebook last Saturday by Jessie Malaya, the three policemen were shown having a heated argument with the Malayas in front of the latter’s house at Barangay Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City.

It was apparent in the video that although the Soriano brothers were in civilian clothes, they were carrying firearms bulging under their shirts.

In an interview, Malaya said the policemen who were on motorcycles earlier got into a minor traffic dispute with his father on Mabini Street.

Provocation

They later followed his father home, all the while hurling threats and invectives at him, Malaya added.

In the video, the three policemen were demanding that the Malayas bring their father out of the house so that they could talk to him.

One of the Malayas was heard yelling at the Soriano brothers: “There’s a gun ban [because of the barangay elections]. You’re not even in uniform. Why do you have guns?”

The tension between the two groups was defused after the policemen saw that some people were taking videos of them.

Senior Supt. Restituto Arcangel, Caloocan City police chief, said the Malayas had filed charges of grave oral defamation and alarm and scandal against the Sorianos.

The policemen also face charges of violating the Omnibus Election Code for carrying firearms while not in uniform, he added.

Floating status

Ralph was previously assigned to the Northern Police District (NPD)-Office of the Deputy Director for Administration, according to NPD director, Chief Supt. Amando Clifton Empiso.

Rendel, on the other hand, was with the Caloocan City police station’s operations unit while Reniel was assigned to the Drug Enforcement Group based in Camp Crame.

The brothers are currently on floating status at the National Capital Region Police Office headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.