YEARENDER: Traffic brawls top videos, photos of 2014

MANILA, Philippines - Road bully Robert Blair Carabuena, who was caught on video assaulting a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic constable in 2012, found company this year as photos and videos of similar incidents have gone viral.

In November, a video of a couple beating two MMDA traffic constables and a photojournalist spread on social media following the incident in Barangay Bagumbayan, Quezon City.

Police identified the couple as Edwin Guirimbao Jr. and Roselyn Garcia, who allegedly acted arrogantly after they were accosted for violating an ordinance prohibiting motorcycle riders from wearing slippers.

The two attacked constables Servando Gesta and Geraldo Santiago, as well as photojournalist Arturo Son after he started taking photos of the commotion.

They were charged with direct assault on an agent of person in authority and physical injury over the incident.

Similar charges were filed against a driver of a luxury vehicle who allegedly assaulted another MMDA constable, also in November.

Joseph Russel Ingco was charged with robbery and grave threats following a scuffle with constable Jorbe Adriatico that was caught on video and went viral on the Internet.

The video showed the Maserati driver punching and dragging Adriatico after the latter flagged him for a traffic violation. Ingco, however, claimed he was provoked by the MMDA constable.

Earlier in July, a driver of a sport utility vehicle was videotaped threatening and pointing a gun at a cabbie following a traffic altercation along EDSA.

Taxi driver Glen Remetio filed charges of grave threats and physical injuries against Karlvin Ernest Ang, an executive of a real estate development company, over the incident.

It later turned out that it was Ang’s cousin, Bill Emerson Tan-Ang, who was the person seen in the video.

Frustrated murder charges were lodged against the taxi driver after he allegedly pulled out a knife and pointed it at Tan-Ang.

Abusive cops

Several police officers also became subjects of viral photos and videos that allegedly showed them abusing their authority.

In September, a group of armed men were caught on video intercepting a van along EDSA. Investigation later showed that the armed men were members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who were engaged in what appeared to be a case of hulidap.

The men had been arrested and charged for the incident.

Recently, the Manila International Airport Authority placed under investigation Police Officer 2 Alejandro Pineda Jr. after he was caught on video smashing the window of a taxi after its driver refused to hand over his license.

Netizens were divided on the issue, with some saying the taxi driver should have complied with the order of Pineda to hand over his license. Officials, however, said the officer should have exercised more restraint.

In May, the Bureau of Immigration suspended an officer after he was caught on video slapping a Chinese woman barred from entering the country.

Rashid Rangiris was seen in the video slapping Jiang Huixiang after the latter aggressively reacted when she was about to be deported for lack of proper documents.

Several security guards assigned at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig had been placed under investigation after they were videotaped manhandling two British men in October.

In the video, one of the two Britons appeared to be resisting the guards, who later overpowered him and held him down on the ground. A marshal was seen shoving him, while another was seen kicking him in the head.

Conflicting stories on what happened prior to the rough arrest circulated as the video started going viral on social media.

A PNP official was also linked in a viral story after a model boasted about using his calling card to get away with a traffic violation.

Chief Superintendent Alexander Ignacio, head of the PNP directorate for plans, has denied knowing Alyzza Agustin, who posted the calling card photo on her Facebook account.

The model later apologized to the PNP official.

Not just bad news

Several positive stories have also gone viral this year.

In October, Senior Police Officer 1 Ariel Camiling was lauded by netizens after he was seen in a photo helping a couple whose vehicle got stalled along EDSA.

Motorist Joann Angeles delos Santos posted a photo of Camiling on Facebook and detailed how the officer willingly helped them out of their ordeal.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino promoted enforcer Fernando Gonzales after his photo selling kakanin to motorists went viral.

He earned praise from netizens for not resorting to extortion to augment his meager salary.

Another viral incident in October united netizens in raising funds to support a boy selling pandesal who was robbed of his earnings worth P200 in Caloocan City.

A viral photo showing a malnourished child prompted an investigation on the Manila Reception and Action Center, which denied starving the boy as claimed by those who released the photo.

Reports said the child is recovering at a healing ministry in Olongapo City.

UP, Ateneo

The University of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) also had their share of viral stories in 2014.

In April, UP had to issue an appeal to the public after photos of a family supposedly uprooting sunflowers despite signs prohibiting the act went viral.

The sunflowers are considered an icon of the university, blooming in time for graduation in April.

Later in the year, the university initiated an investigation after photos showing three men with a dead rare bird went viral on social media.

The photos caused uproar among netizens, who criticized what they dubbed as “wildlife hunting” inside the UP campus.

In July, ADMU president Jett Villarin issued an apology after photos of former Imelda Marcos at a scholarship fund event circulated online.