THE Police Regional Office (PRO) in Davao Region has affirmed the charges filed against a driver who took a video of a cop confronting him for a traffic violation at Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) and posted it on Facebook last week.
Charged with libel and violation of Republic Act 10175, otherwise known as The Anti-Cybercrime Law, is John Nathan Selavan, 38, a resident of Purok 3-A, Tagum City. The police filed the charges before the prosecution office in Tagum City.
In a report obtained from the PRO-Davao, the policeman who was captured on video was identified as Police Officer 1 (PO1) Ian Cris Bahona Millan, a traffic policeman, assigned in Samal. Millan was with other police at a checkpoint.
Selavan, on board a motorcycle, was intercepted by Millan after he violated a traffic law in Barangay Caliclic in Babak District in Igacos at 9 a.m. on July 15, Sunday. The police was supposed to issue a ticket against him when he resisted.
"According to the report, gipasakay ang suspect sa police mobile kay di siya mudawat sa temporary operator’s permit (TOP) even after he was caught for not wearing helmet," PRO-Davao spokesperson Chief Inspector Milgrace Driz said.
Driz said the region does not condone and/or tolerate any violations committed by a police, if there is any. She added that any acts of their police personnel must be with in accordance with the law and its Police Operational Procedures.
"If the public think that their rights were violated they should report it to authorities of disciplinary machineries of the Philippine National Police (PNP). However, in this case we believe that the police officer is just doing his job," Driz said.
Driz said the policemen are just doing a random simultaneous checkpoint on strategic locations, particularly in Samal, to ensure safety and security among tourists and local constituents in the island and arrest those violators of the law.
"Our primary concern is crime prevention and public safety for everyone enjoying the scenic beauty of the island and to other purpose for business, work and/or leisure," she added.
Driz said the violators of the law must be apprehended and thorough spot inspections must be done to ensure safety and security.