Traffic enforcer beaten up in QC

Police arrested yesterday a group of Chinese-Filipinos for beating up a traffic enforcer who was investigating an accident along E. Rodriguez Avenue in Quezon City yesterday.

The face of Sanico Angeles, traffic enforcer of the city’s Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS), was left swollen when six men ganged up on him at 8:30 a.m.

Responding policemen from the Galas police station and north traffic sector arrested the six suspects identified as Benedict Chan, 25, Jason Andoloy, 26, Stephen Chang, 23, Charles Leir, 30, Stephen Chen, 19, and Pedro Cua, 23.

Initial police investigation revealed that Angeles was talking to drivers involved in a collision between a BMW sedan and a taxi when a group of men alighted from a van and confronted the traffic enforcer. The six men then beat up Angeles.

The driver of the BMW allegedly sought the assistance of the six men, who are his relatives and friends.

At the police station in Kamuning, members of the group attacked a photographer who took shots of the suspects. At least two newsmen and several policemen were hurt in the scuffle.

Police are preparing charges of serious physical injuries, resisting arrest and assault upon persons in authority against the suspects.

A man who introduced himself as the father of one of the suspects appeared at the police station, saying they want to settle the case amicably.

"We are willing to settle with anyone affected by the unfortunate incident. We are very sorry for the actuations of our sons, it was a purely a misunderstanding," he said. – Perseus Echeminada