PNP chief on condo raid: Go ahead, sue cops

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa challenged yesterday the management of a condominium in Taguig City to file charges against the policemen who berated its tenants for reportedly breaching quarantine protocols.

The management of Pacific Plaza Towers earlier threatened to file complaints against the four police officers who allegedly broke into the property in Bonifacio Global City.

“They were saying they will charge my policemen. Go ahead, we will defend ourselves,” Gamboa said.

He defended the policemen, saying they were well within their authority to enter the property.

Gamboa said the police officers went to the condominium in response to reports that some tenants were defying guidelines of the enhanced community quarantine, which seek to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019.

He said the information came from other residents of the condominium.

“Ang nangyari kasi there was a request coming from the condominium residents na puntahan niyo ito,” he said.

One of the policemen was caught on video admonishing the residents who gathered at the condominium’s swimming pool to return to their units.

Under the Bayanihan Act, any form of mass gathering is prohibited during the enhanced community quarantine.

Gamboa said the policemen were “actually nice as they did not arrest the residents.”

“May personal knowledge ang pulis na meron nangyaring violation, right then and there puwede nga warantless arrest pero syempre maraming arguments,” he added.

The condominium management earlier denounced the police team led by Maj. Joseph Austria for allegedly tresspassing into the property.