Cop captured on video while mauling motorist disarmed and relieved
The Quezon City policeman caught on video mauling a motorist inside a police station over a traffic altercation last week was has been disarmed and ordered for transfer to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Headquarters in Camp Crame.
Chief Inspector Melvin Madrona made an exit call before Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Director Guillermo Eleazar in Camp Karingal yesterday during which he turned over his service firearm to his superior.
Eleazar said they received the other day the order from the PNP headquarters placing Madrona under restrictive custody of its Headquarters Support Service. “The order should be effective immediately,” he said.
Madrona said he would abide by the PNP order.
“Ako po ay tumatalima sa aming organisasyon, susunod sa desisyon… Ako po nandito ngayon para sumunod sa kautusan ng aming organisayon (I will abide by our organization’s decision… I’m here to comply to the order of our organization),” Madrona told media.
Madrona was caught in a series of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footages inside the Fairview Police Station on March 17, mauling a 24-year-old motorist while his peers stood and watched. He was immediately ordered relieved when his superiors learned about the incident.
The motorist’s identity was not disclosed to the public for his security.
While he did not deny beating the victim, Madrona, who leads the Fairview Police’s Special Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU), said he only defended himself and claimed that it was the motorist who provoked him during a road altercation.
Eleazar, however, said Madrona’s action is “unacceptable” even if it was the motorist who started the incident.
“We chose him (to be) the chief of the SDEU because there were no derogatory reports about him. In fact, he really helped in our campaign against anti-illegal drugs and other forms of criminality. But just the same, no explanation could justify what he did. Whatever happened, it cannot justify what we saw in (the) CCTV footage,” he said.
Eleazar said he is also dismayed that Madrona’s action tainted the “sanctity” of the police station where the motorist supposedly asked for help.
“The victim went there, he was seeking refuge. He may be thinking that it is his sanctuary and report the incident. But the fact that he was mauled in a police station… and a senior officer was responsible… what we saw on video was not acceptable,” he said.
The police official added that they are now investigating the policemen who were seen in the footage just standing around without lifting a finger to stop the physical abuse of the victim. He said they will be asked to explain their sides.
Eleazar said that they are now preparing administrative charges against Madrona, who now faces criminal charges of physical injuries, arbitrary detention, grave threats and grave coercion.