Malabon policeman hunted

A Malabon cop riding escort to two container vans caught violating the truck ban is being hunted for criminal charges after running afoul with traffic enforcers of the Metro Manila Development Authority yesterday in Caloocan City.

Superintendent Jose Valencia, city police investigation chief, said PO3 Marlon Quitalig of Malabon City police station’s PCP 4, is being sought on charges of attempted homicide, threats and slight physical injuries filed against him by the six MMDA traffic enforcers.

The six complainants were identified as Alphipany Roque, 32 of Navotas (for attempted homicide); Jessie Dimacali, 31 of Tugatog, Malabon, Benjie Bayani, 30 and Barry Villanueva, 26, of both of Sta. Lucia Floodway, Pasig; Amer de la Cruz, 26, of Project 4, Quezon City (for threats) and Invencion Basco III, 43 of Tabing Bakod, Sta. Maria, Bulacan (for physical injuries). 

According to reports, the incident happened at around 7:51 p.m. Monday night in front of the MCU Hospital on EDSA near the Bonifacio Shrine in Monumento. The police said Basco, Arcon and one Diolazo flagged down two container vans (RED-823 and RGA-660) driven by Jose Abad Jr. and Rosendo Balansag, respectively, for violating the truck ban. The drivers’ licenses were then confiscated by the traffic enforcers and the corresponding traffic violation receipts (TVRs) issued.

At this point, suspect Quitalig, escorting the vehicles on board his motorcycle going north, appeared fuming mad and grabbed the tickets and a heated argument broke out between the two groups.

Quitalig allegedly elbowed Basco in the chest and punched him in the face. Upon seeing this, Diolazo sought help from his companions and Roque, Dimacali, Bayani, De la Cruz and Villanueva all rushed to the scene and confronted Quitalig. At this, Quitalig drew his 9 mm service firearm and waved it in front of the traffic enforcers. Roque tried to pacify Quitalig and pushed the gun aside. The gun however fired and hit Roque in the left hand.

Quitalig then turned and ran to his motorcycle (1830CE) and sped away leaving his companions.

The injured Roque was taken to the MCU Hospital. PO3s Abelardo Valentino and Santos Balhon of the Caloocan police mobile patrol unit soon arrived but Quitalig has fled.

The case is still being further investigated, said the police.

In related developments, the MMDA is now asking the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Task Force and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s help in checking the contents of the two 40-foot trailer vans intercepted by a traffic enforcer in Malabon Monday night.

The agency suspects that the trucks may be carrying contraband or smuggled items considering how a police officer tried to escort the vehicles and even engaged in a gun scuffle with a traffic enforcer who got wounded in the incident.

“I have asked the anti-smuggling task force and the PDEA to assist us,” MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando told The Star believing that it would not be right to open the trailer vans without having authorized personnel present.

The trucks are presently being stored in an impounding area in Pasig City where it awaits proper inspection procedures and verification.

MMDA Traffic Enforcement Group chief, Bobby Esquivel, said the trailer vans were intercepted at around 8 p.m. in Malabon. According to him, a police officer tried to stop his traffic enforcer from halting the trucks because of a truck ban out the former attacked and mauled the latter.

“Binugbog yung traffic enforcer namin. Eh napadaan yung ilang members ng sidewalk clearing, nakita yung nangyayari, kaya sumaklolo. Nagkaroon ng agawan ng baril, pumutok yung baril kaya nasugatan sa kamay yung isang tao namin,” Esquivel narrated.

When they went to the police station to file a complaint against the policeman who was in civilian clothes, he said more police officers with long firearms started arriving and were seemingly trying to help protect the trailer vans.

“Tinawagan namin si Razon (Philippine National Police chief Director General Avelino Razon). Nung tumawag si Razon, na-alarma na sila. 101 percent may sabit itong mga trucks na ito,” Esquivel said.