Cop who mauled motorist turns himself in to QCPD chief

The police officer who was caught on closed-circuit television mauling a motorist turned himself in to his superior, Quezon City Police District director Chief Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, on Tuesday.

Chief Inspector Melvin Madrona, assigned at the QCPD Station 5 in Fairview, nodded to reporters when asked if he is ready to face the consequences of what he did.

He turned over to Eleazar his badge and firearm before going to Camp Crame where he will be placed under restrictive custody. 

CInsp Madrona, allegedly mauled a motorist, surrenders to QCPD chief Eleazar @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/syeZcQqth0

— amitalegaspi (@amitalegaspi) March 28, 2017

Eleazar said Madrona admitted to him that he committed the mistake.

"Alam niyang mali ang ginawa niya pero dala ng kanyang kahinaan dahil may nangyari before 'yung sa presinto," he said.

Eleazar said he went to Station 5 on Monday to talk with the police officers whom he said had low morale.

"Mababa na 'yung morale nila kasi itong Station 5, best station nung last namin na awarding. So kinausap ko sila as a whole to inform them 'yung update of the situation; at the same time warn din 'yung mga hindi dapat gawin," he said.

"Specifically 'yung sa mga personnel dun, short of reorientation. I reprimanded them regarding sa action na 'yun and we will just wait for the investigation," he added.

Eleazar said Station 5 personnel who allowed the mauling to happen are also being investigated.

"Kasama sila sa iimbestigahan doon sa administrative case na nakasampa na or handled by DIDM... They will be directed to explain kung ano nangyari and from there we will evaluate," he said.

He said it was the first time Madrona was involved in such an incident.

"He is actually the chief of the station DEG (drug enforcement group) at kaya naman siya napili dun ay wala naman derogatory report about him. In fact, nakatulong siya sa campaign against illegal drugs and other forms of criminality," he said.

However, Eleazar said Madrona's action against the motorist has no justification.

"'Yung ginawa niya kasi was caught doon sa CCTV. E walang explanation na pwedeng mag-justify. He was telling us na before that may altercation pero kahit ano pa nangyari doon hindi pwedeng justification 'yun doon sa nakita natin sa CCTV," he said.

Eleazar said the victim sought refuge at the police station but did not expect what he got.

"'Yung victim pumunta doon dahil gusto niya magsumbong, hindi ba? Kumbaga he was seeking refuge. Isipin niya, ito sanctuary kung saan dumulog siya and kung saan doon pa nangyari that senior officer sinaktan siya and then binugbog siya. Doon nakita natin sa video at hindi ito katanggap-tanggap," he said.

Eleazar said the incident happened because of the police officer's hot temper.

"Nangyari ito dahil sa init ng ulo dahil may sinasabi siya (Madrona) na pinagsimulan 'yun. Walang pinagkaiba ito sa road rage. Dapat mas mahinahon lalo na kung nasa police station 'yan," he said.

Eleazar said Madrona told him that he felt his dignity was being trampled upon during the altercation with the victim.

"Before the incident parang na-feel niya na 'yung dignity niya masyadong naapektuhan but just the same sinasabi niya na hindi reason 'yun para gawin niya 'yun. Nabigla siya," he said.

Eleazar advised the police officers to always remember that they are agents of authority and should never lose their temper.

"Sabi ko kahit saan, mali talaga 'yun at ako ay nalulungkot din dahil nagawa niya 'yun. Dapat laging iisipin ng mga pulis na we are agent of authority, na tayo mismo nakikita ng mga tao na mahinahon and hindi pwede tayong padala sa ating emotions," he said.

"Kapag ang feeling mo ikaw ay kinakawawa, ang dignity mo is inaapakan, ang isipin
mo ay kasama 'yun sa trabaho. Kailangan nandun ang pasensiya mo," he added.

Eleazar said the QCPD will cooperate with the investigation and provide the necessary evidence.

"Ngayon as cases have been filed already or referred to the Office of the City Prosecutor and the administrative case is being handled by Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, so QCPD will provide all the evidence, documents, pati witnesses required nila para makatulong sa investigation," he said.

On Sunday, Eleazar said he had sacked Madrona from his post.

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Monday ordered that Madrona be placed under restrictive custody. —KG, GMA News