Eleazar apologizes to delivery rider accidentally shot in Jake Cuenca car chase

Philippine National Police chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar on Wednesday apologized to the delivery rider accidentally shot by the police as they chased actor Jake Cuenca.

At the Laging Handa briefing, Eleazar said it is up to the victim whether to file a complaint against the police.

“Humihingi tayo ng pasensya doon sa nabaril. Tinutulungan natin. Pero gaya ng sinabi ko, nasa kanya po iyon kung sakaling siya ay magreklamo sa ating mga kapulisan,” he said.

(We are apologizing to the man who was shot. We are helping him. But like what I have said, it is up to him if he wants to file a complaint against our police.)

Eleazar added that the Eastern Police District and the Mandaluyong City Police have already reached out to the victim's family.

Cuenca was arrested after his SUV hit a police vehicle in Mandaluyong City at around 9 p.m. on Saturday. Police said the SUV did not stop and so they chased it until they reached the area near Shaw Boulevard, Pasig City, where they fired at the car's tires to make it stop.

Five police officers who were involved in the car chase were relieved from their posts, as EPD director Police Brigadier General Matthew Bacay pointed out that firing shots is not part of the standard operating procedure.

Cuenca is facing complaints of disobedience and reckless imprudence over the incident. — BM, GMA News