Zamboanga cop caught on video pinning motorcyclist to the ground

A police officer was recorded on video pinning down a motorcycle rider in the middle of the road in Zamboanga City, according to a Saturday report on “24 Oras Weekend.”

In the video, the cop could be seen forcing the rider to the ground again after moving to the side of the street. When the rider was lying down, the officer pulled out a radio.

The police officer then stood up and stepped on the rider’s stomach. The cop was later seen holding the rider’s shirt while arguing with another individual.

Though the uploader of the video attempted to stop the officer, the uploader was threatened with arrest and a charge of obstruction of justice.

The officer was later identified to be Police Major Jivertson Pelovello, the chief of the Santa Maria Police Station.

The spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 9 said that Pelovello scolded two men riding a motorcycle for not wearing a face mask amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

“Kaniyang namataan itong dalawang lalaki na walang helmet, wala pang face mask, naka-tsinelas lang,” Capitain Edwin Duco said.

“Nang kaniyang lapitan para tanungin, kumaripas sila ng takbo at nakipag-racing sa pulis. Muntik mabangga, ayan bumaba, ang isa nakatakbo, ‘yugn isa nahawakan,” he added.

Pelovello, who is currently under investigation, has been moved to the Regional Personnel Holding Administration Unit. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News