WPD-GAS cops figure in mall melee

A police operation against pirated and pornographic video compact discs conducted by the Western Police District-General Assignments Section (WPD-GAS) triggered a melee and a near shootout in a Manila mall.

SPO4 Geronimo Cristobal, duty desk officer of WPD-station 9 said that at around 6 p.m. the other day he received a telephone call from one S.G. Escoto, a tenant of Harrison Plaza Complex in Malate, Manila, complaining of a commotion in the exhibit area of the mall.

Elements of WPD 9 led by Police Inspector Rodolfo Salmete and Juritz Rara responded to the scene and learned from exhibitors that operatives of WPD-GAS conducted an operation against pirated VCD’s particularly X-rated movies, without their knowledge which caused a near shoot-out.

Witness Guillermo Mina, 39, security guard of Vulcan Security Agency, detailed at the mall, said the melee erupted between the tenants and the WPD-GAS operatives when SPO1 Vicente Noriega poked a firearm at an exhibitor, Solayman Sulutan, 20, native of Marawi City and was dragged away. Angered co-exhibitors selling knives and samurais got hold of those weapons and attempted to attack the policemen; but responding policemen of WPD 9 arrived just in time to avert bloodshed, added Mina. However, SPO1 Noriega fired his gun before leaving the mall said Roger Taeza, assistant chief security officer of the mall.

Elements of theWPD-GAS, led by Noriega and SPO4 Avelino Mangat had earlier swooped down on the exibit area of the mall and started confiscating alleged pornographic video compact discs of the traders without coordination with the Videogram Regulatory Board, Philippine Association of the Recording Industry, WPD 9, and our office, according to Taeza.

" The GAS violated the rules of engagement. The least they could have done was to notify us of their operation so we would not mistake them for robbers because they were all wearing plainclothes; and prevent unnecessary disturbance and shootouts," said Taeza.

" I even received complaint from an exhibitor that the raiding team were allegedly asking for P10,000 or else face confiscation and charges before the melee occured," added Taeza.

The case was referred to WPD’s District Investigation Office for proper disposition by Superintendent Luis Salagumba, Station 9 commander. – Wilfredo Suarez