2 Manila cops face admin raps after blocking responding fire volunteer

A fire volunteer has filed administrative complaints against two cops for alleged obstruction, harassment, and intimidation during a fire response operation in Tondo, Manila, the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) said Tuesday.

In a statement, the NAPOLCOM said complainant Roicyd del Rosario reported that on April 15, his team was responding to a fire in Barangay 121 when their firetruck was blocked at the Mata Street-Capulong Street intersection.

Del Rosario alleged that a motorcycle driven by Police Master Sergeant John Ruel Morandante obstructed their fire truck. To avoid a collision, the fire truck was forced to stop and reverse. 

Despite this, Del Rosario said Morandante allegedly disembarked and continued to block their path.

"Sa kabila nito, bumaba siya at hinarang ang aming sasakyan; sa aking obserbasyon, siya ay tila nasa impluwensya ng alak," Del Rosario said in a sworn statement.

(Despite this, he alighted his motorcycle and blocked our fire truck. Based on my observation, he appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.)

"Siya ay kumalampag sa fire truck, nagmura, dinuro ako, at nagpakilalang pulis, habang umaakto na tila bubunot ng baril," he added.

(He pounded the fire truck, cursed, pointed at me, and identified himself as a police officer, while acting as if he was going to pull out a gun.)

A meeting was held on April 16 at the Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW) office, where the involved officer reportedly executed a written undertaking with admission and apology.

However, Del Rosario said that on April 17, Morandante's brother, also a police officer, went to Barangay 104 and sought to obtain the names of the fire volunteers involved in the response.

"Dito po ako ay nagsimulang matakot sa aking seguridad sa kanilang pagtatanong-tanong sa aming mga pangalan; na ang dalawang magkapatid na Morandante na kapwa mga pulis ay hinarass ang staff ng Barangay para isulat ang aming mga pangalan," Del Rosario said.

(This is where I started to get scared for my safety as they kept asking for our names; the two Morandante brothers, both police officers, harassed the Barangay staff to write down our names.)

Due to this, Del Rosario filed administrative complaints before the NAPOLCOM against the two officers for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

GMA News Online has reached out to the Manila Police District (MPD) for the side of the two cops but it has yet to respond as of posting time. — VDV, GMA News