A content creator in Davao City shared her experience on social media after a police officer allegedly made what she described as sexist remarks when she was arrested for violating the city’s anti-smoking ordinance.
In a video that went viral online, the content creator said she was caught in the act of vaping and was confronted by the police officer.
The content creator added that the officer’s approach became inappropriate, claiming that he made comments about her appearance and clothing during the encounter.
“Kani si officer si sir lain ang iyang approach lain iyang taras “sexyha nimo uy” ana gani mga antikels gikan kog show pauli nakog ang akoang suot pang puok nga short pero dili sexy akong top “sexy kaayo ka” “ asa man ka” ana iyang atake antikels,” the content creator, Jodesa Delos Santos, said in the video.
Delos Santos said she admitted to the violation. However, she took issue with what she described as sexist remarks made by the officer.
“Jamming jamming siya sa akoa antikels naay pagka igat wala ko kasabot kung unsa ang iyang tumong gusto siya mapitikan o unsa ba lain gyud akong na-feel antikels naniid rako kini si sir murag nakainom siya,” Delos Santos added.
She said the encounter ended when the man she introduced to the police officer as her boyfriend arrived, after which she was finally issued a citation for the vaping violation.
DUE PROCESS
Meanwhile, the police station where the officer is assigned said the allegations against him must undergo due process.
“Atoa pud siyang gitanggal sa position as patroler and then naa siya karon sa headquarters sa station para dili na ma further ang infraction nga iyang ma-commit but we have a process man gud we have to observe the process para mahatagan og chance ang police officer nga madunggan ang iyang side,” Maa Police Station Commander, Major Philip Uddin, said.
Meanwhile, regarding the allegation that the police officer was under the influence of alcohol, Uddin said the officer involved denied having consumed alcohol at that time and explained that the bottles he was carrying had been confiscated from other individuals during their patrol operations.
“According sa iyang explanation wala siya nakainom ato nga time only that kato nga personnel man gud based on my personal knowledge ang tingog medyo husky gikan sila nag-roving to implement city ordinance nga liquor ban or anti-smoking naa siyay dala nga mga bote but based to siya sa mga na-confiscate ug mga lain nga tao before sila naabot ato nga incident,” Uddin said.
CALL FOR RAPS
According to Gabriela Youth Davao, incidents like this are alarming.
“Hindi siya nalalayo sa pagtingin sa kababaihan sa ating society na parang mga objects lang, ino-objectify yong katawan, nare-reduce lang yung dangal at karapatan ng kababaihan bilang mga palamuti na tinitingnan as attractive beings rather than being seen as individuals that are deserving of respect and dignity. If we are just technically basing on the law, dapat talaga there are grounds for that certain police officer na makasuhan under Safe Spaces Act,” Gabriela Youth Davao Chairperson, Allysa Ancheta, said.
“How do we actually trust the same government officials or the same officer who enforce the laws kung mismo sila yong lumalabag sa batas at hindi napapanagot,” Ancheta added.
The police station assured that it would not tolerate such conduct if proven.
“Ang PNP ang Maa Police Station dili naga-tolerate sa any infraction nga ma-commit sa atong police officers,” Uddin said.
