PNP to probe confrontation between policemen, Binay supporters –Roxas

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas on Tuesday said the Philippine National Police (PNP) will launch an investigation into Monday night's confrontation between policemen and Vice President Jejomar Binay's supporters.

Senior Superintendent Elmer M. Jamias of the Southern Police District claimed that some of Binay's followers cursed and roughed up police personnel who were guarding the barricades set up outside the Makati City Hall following the suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman against Binay's son, Makati Mayor Junjun Binay.

Roxas, in a press briefing in Camp Aquinaldo, said the PNP will formally request television networks for copies of the footage taken the previous day, which supposedly showed some of Binay's men roughing up some police personnel, including a female officer.

“Pormal na hihingin ito (video footage) ng PNP para makikita kung sino nanguwelyo, sino sumuntok, sino humawak sa kamay, sino nagtulak sa mga babaeng pulis na siyang ginagawa lang naman ang tungkulin. Tungkulin nating  panatilihin ang katahimikan at kaayusan sa Makati,” he said.

Roxas said the medical certificate of SPO1 Fergette Esguerra, the female officer supposedly hurt during the confrontation, showed that she sustained bruises. Chief Inspector Gideon Ginez, meanwhile, was allegedly cursed and pushed around by the Vice President’s bodyguards until he was hit in the chest.

While Roxas demurred from specifying the possible charges that could be filed against the individuals who supposedly hit the police officers until he has viewed the video footage of the incident, he vowed that authorities will continue to enforce the law.

He also encouraged the media to show the videos so that the public will know the truth about the supposed encounter.

“Lahat naman po ito nasa video. Kayong nasa media, ipalabas niyo ang video para makita ang katotohanan. Ang ating atas sa PNP, maximum tolerance. Absolute restraint. Nandoon sila para magpatupad ng batas. Hindi para manggulo kundi para panatilihin ang kaayusan at dapat lunukin na lang nila,” Roxas said.

Footage captured by GMA News during the confrontation, as aired on GMA News TV's News To Go, showed the Vice President telling Jamias, "Marahas ka sa tao."

The police official replied, "Wala po akong ginagawang karahasan, sir..."

Binay went on, "Basta sinasabi ko lang sa iyo, mag-aaway tayo. Lalabanan ka namin."

Jamias responded that he respected Binay as vice president, and the latter replied that he also respected the official.

Jamias said, "Ang purpose lang po namin dito, panatilihin ang katahimikan dito sa lugar n'yo."

"Bakit mo hinaharang, wala namang nanggugulo?" Binay said, then some of his allies tried to add to the conversation, pointing out that the police were conducting checkpoint there. —KBK, GMA News