‘SORIANO BROTHERS’

3 policemen in viral video relieved, face probe

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde has ordered the relief from duty of policemen caught in a viral video confronting a civilian due to a traffic altercation.

PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao on Tuesday said Albayalde relieved were brothers Police Officer 1 Rendel Soriano and Reniel Soriano and Police Officer 3 Ralph Soriano.

Bulalacao said Rendel is a member of the Caloocan City Police Station, Ralph is from the Northern Police District while Reniel is a member of the PNP-Drug Enforcement Group based in Camp Crame.

He said the brothers were relieved "after their video went viral on the social media confronting a man at his residence after a traffic altercation."

The Soriano brothers were seen in a video confronting Ricardo Malaya at his residence along Mabini Street in Caloocan City.

The brothers were also seen in the video exchanging words with relatives of Malaya.

It can be seen in the video that at least two of the siblings were carrying firearms.

Members of the Malaya family kept on telling the brothers that they should not have went to their residence carrying firearms if they really want to just talk with them.

They also insisted that the brothers should not carry firearms because they were in civilian clothes and there is an existing gun ban for the upcoming barangay elections.

Bulalacao said Caloocity City Police chief Senior Superintendent Restituto Arcangel has launched an investigation after Malaya filed a case against the erring policemen.

"[Arcangel] has already initiated an investigation against the police officers for alleged grave threat, grave oral defamation and alarm and scandal and violation of the Omnibus Election Code for bearing arms while not in uniform after Mr. Ricardo Malaya and his family members filed complaints against them," Bulalacao said. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/ALG, GMA News