NAPOLCOM calls out light charges vs cop in viral C5 road rage

The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) on Thursday called out the light charges filed by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) against its cop who was involved in a viral road rage incident along the C5 Road in Pasig City.

“Alam mo kaya ako nagagalit, kakasuhan natin yung kapwa natin pulis ng physical injuries, malicious mischief,” NAPOLCOM Commissioner Atty. Rafael Vicente Calinisan said in a press conference.

(You know why I'm angry, you will charge your fellow police officer with physical injuries, malicious mischief.)

“Klarong-klarong frustrated o attempted murder ‘yun,” he added.

(It's clearly frustrated or attempted murder.)

QCPD’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Edison Ouano said he and the investigator considered the victim’s medical certificate.

“Nakita namin together with the investigator na pagkatumba niya, two to three minutes nakabangon siya agad. Based doon sa medical certificate ay abrasion lang ang natamo niya,” Ouano said.

(We saw, together with the investigator, that after he fell, he got up two to three minutes later. Based on the medical certificate, he only suffered abrasions.)

“Pina-pull out ko na yung unang charge na physical injuries. Pinabago na namin sa frustrated murder,” he added.

(I have already pulled out the initial charge of physical injuries. We have changed it to frustrated murder.)

Calinisan identified the cop involved in the viral video as Police Staff Sergeant Erwin Baquiran Lagua, who apologized over the incident.

"Humihingi po ako ng kapatawaran lalong-lalo na sa taong naperwisyo ko,” he said.

(I ask for forgiveness, especially to the person I hurt.)

The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Barangay Ugong involving the police officer assigned to the QCPD’s District Mobile Force Battalion.

Initial investigation showed the cop allegedly made contact with the rear portion of a motorcycle driven by a civilian rider, causing the victim to fall and sustain injuries.

The incident was captured on a 360-degree camera and later circulated online.

Before the incident, authorities said the police officer and the victim were traveling along C5 Road amid heavy traffic when they had an overtaking or lane dispute that led to the altercation. —RF, GMA News