NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Debold Sinas has ordered a fact-finding investigation into allegations that a policeman assaulted and illegally arrested a female Grab car driver following a heated argument.
Sinas said the Taguig City Police Station has requested an establishment for a surveillance camera footage that may have captured the incident.
In a Facebook post, Mirza Miguel Shahzad alleged that a man in civilian clothes who introduced himself as Police Captain Ronald Saquilayan assaulted his girlfriend Florence Norial on Tuesday evening, October 6, 2020.
Shahzad narrated that Norial had picked up a passenger on the driveway of a coffee shop in Grace Mall in Taguig City.
He said the driver of a Ford ranger in front of Norial’s car refused to give way despite Norial’s attempts to get his attention by signaling using the vehicle’s headlight and horn.
Norial stepped out of her car and knocked on the other vehicle’s window on the driver side to request him to move so she can pass through, but the driver ignored her.
She then asked for the assistance of the security guard. The driver of the Ford Ranger allegedly “opened the door suddenly and forcefully”, knocking Norial down and sending her sprawling into the bushes alongside the driveway.
Norial sustained bruises in her hands and legs. She then scrambled up and slapped the driver.
The driver then introduced himself as Saquilayan and pushed Norial to the exterior wall of the coffee shop.
Saquilayan then asked his daughter, who was inside the vehicle, to get his handcuffs.
“A lot of people saw this happen, and when she was asking him to not hurt her and talk to her in a calm manner, he still continued forcing himself to cuff her. Then a civilian asked that he stops it and just lock her inside of Starbucks instead of hurting her outside which gave her space to call for help. While this was happening, the said police officer never read the Miranda rights to her,” Shahzad stated.
Saquilayan is assigned at the Pateros police station.
Video
In a video captured by Norial while they were inside the coffee shop, Saquilayan said he was arresting Norial for “hitting me and hurting me.”
Norial was brought to the Taguig City Police Station 4 and was later transferred to the police station headquarters in the Taguig City Hall.
Shahzad, along with Norial’s sister, went to the police station and said the police refused to hear their side and was obviously taking the side of their colleague.
Norial admitted hitting the police officer but maintained that she just acted in self defense.
In a police report, Saquilayan said Norial suddenly went out of her car, shouted at him and confronted him while he was waiting in his parked vehicle for his daughter.
He said he stepped out of his vehicle to report the matter to the security guard and when he was about to board his vehicle again, Norial pushed the door to prevent him from getting inside.
He said Norial also suddenly hit him on his head which prompted him to arrest her.
Saquilayan charged Norial with alarm and scandal and direct assault to a person in authority.
Police said Norial was also “unruly” and resisted and tried to flee while under arrest.
Grab Philippines has vowed to provide Norial with financial assistance so she can be released from jail.
"We have received reports regarding one of our driver-partners who was detained after allegedly disrespecting a police officer. The safety and welfare of our driver-partners remain top priority for us at Grab," Grab said in a statement.
"We are currently coordinating with the family of our driver-partner, and we will provide bail assistance for her immediate release," it added. (SunStar Philippines)