PNP chief boots out QCPD exec for shouting at GMA News crew

The chief of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit has been booted out from his post, the Philippine National Police chief said Friday. Superintendent Franklin Moises Mabanag was axed as the Internal Affairs Service of the PNP launched a probe into the November 30 incident in which he shouted and flaunted his M16 in driving away a GMA News team trying to follow up an alleged kidnapping incident. Supt. Bernabe Balba of the QCPD intelligence unit was named acting CIDU chief. National Police chief Avelino Razon told GMA News that Mabanag’s behavior in the incident was unacceptable. “We will not allow police officers to behave in such a manner," Razon said. “They are supposed to be citizen-friendly, courteous, accommodating and ready to serve." Reporter Rawnna Crisostomo and her news crew were at the entrance of Mabanag’s office on the second floor of the QCPD headquarters in Sikatuna Village when they were greeted by the officer’s angry voice. “Get out now," Mabanag bawled at the news crew. Mabanag then sounded calmly as he asked again the news crew to leave. Footage of the incident showed the officer slowly reaching for his M-16 rifle while barking orders to his men to usher the GMA team downstairs. Crisostomo tried to explain but Mabanag yelled back: “Kung sino man ang tumawag sa inyo may gusto lang siyang pasabugin. You better get down." From a window, Mabanag was even seen flaunting his M-16 but the GMA News crew left unbowed. - GMANews.TV