Phone-grabbing SPD chief won’t be sacked — Año

MANILA, Philippines — The police general who grabbed the cell phone of television reporter Jun Veneracion during the Black Nazarene procession last week will not be relieved from his post, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said yesterday.

Año said there is no need to relieve Southern Police District (SPD) director Brig. Gen. Nolasco Bathan while being investigated over his encounter with Veneracion.

“Hindi naman kinakailangan na tanggalin siya sa pwesto because he cannot influence the case,” Año said in a radio interview.

Veneracion of GMA-7 was recording a scuffle between policemen and a devotee of the Black Nazarene when Bathan suddenly took his cell phone.  

The SPD chief ordered a policeman to delete the video. But Veneracion was able to retrieve the clip.

While admitting what Bathan did was wrong, Año said it was an isolated incident, which does not reflect the overall security measures imposed during the Traslacion.

Año said Bathan has apologized for his mistake.

The interior secretary said he has instructed Philippine National Police officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa to probe the incident.

 “I will wait for the result of the investigation,” Año said.