Apparently irked, the Police Regional Office (PRO) XI is asking the public not to upload photos or videos online that would malign the police organization or its personnel especially if they don’t know the truth about the incident.
This, after a social media post accusing a police officer of wrongdoing became viral.
And the PRO is now turning the tables against the accuser, identified as Jonathan Velarde Navales, a resident of Purok 3-A, Sikatuna Street, Tagum City, Davao del Norte.
In an interview yesterday, Chief Insp Milgrace Driz, the spokesperson of PRO XI, said they will file a case of unjust vexation against the uploader.
In a video post on social media, Navales assailed a police officer in Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) for unfair treatment for his alleged selective issuance of Temporary Operator’s Permit (TOP) to motorists in a random checkpoint last Saturday.
Navales said the traffic police officer issued them a TOP for traffic violation but did not issue traffic a citation ticket to another motorist who also did not wear helmet.
Driz identified the police officer in the viral post as PO1 Ian Cris Bahona Millan.
Driz said the other motorist, a certain Alejandro Villiasor, was not exempted as he also got a TOP for traffic violation.
She said Navales was even resisting during the arrest.
Driz said Navales was asked to board the police mobile after he defied the police order despite he was “in fact caught in the act” violating a traffic law for not wearing a helmet.
With this, Driz advised the public to report any police wrongdoing to the proper authorities and not thru social media.
Chief Supt. Manuel Gaerlan, PRO director, also defended PO1 Millan.
“In this case, we believe the police was just doing his job,” Gaerlan said.
Gaerlan said they “do not condone or tolerate any violations of the police if there is any.”
“Any (unlawful) acts of our police must be with in accordance with the law and our Police Operational Procedures,” Gaerlan said.
However, he said, the public should report to the authorities “if they think that their rights were violated.”
Supt. Giussepe Geralde, chief of Samal police, said they are doing routine random simultaneous checkpoint on strategic locations to profile and check the local and foreign tourists.
As there is an obvious influx of tourists in the island, Geralde said they are ensuring safety and security among tourists and to the local constituents in the island.
“Violators of the law must be apprehended and thorough spot inspections must be done,” Geralde said.
“Our primary concern is crime prevention and public safety for everyone enjoying the scenic beauty of the island and to other purpose for business, work or leisure,” he added in a statement given by PRO XI.
