Napolcom officer nabbed for threatening TNVS driver

MANILA, Philippines — An officer of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) was arrested after allegedly threatening a transport network vehicle service or TNVS driver with his firearm during a traffic altercation along EDSA in Quezon City on Friday night.

Brig. Gen. Randy Glenn Silvio, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director, said Insp. Jaime Hermogenes Flores Jr. and the victim got into an argument after their vehicles collided at 11:25 p.m. in Barangay Ugong Norte.

He said a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority enforcer intervened and directed the two to move their vehicles in front of Robinsons Galleria, which is already a part of Quezon City, to ease traffic congestion.

The 42-year-old TNVS driver told GMA News that he was willing to have the incident settled amicably. However, Flores allegedly drew his firearm and hurled profanities at him, prompting him to seek assistance from police officers who were on patrol operations.

The responding policemen confiscated Flores’ caliber .9mm handgun and one magazine with 15 bullets.

“I feared for my family. If he had shot me, what would happen to my family,” the victim said in Filipino.

Silvio said Flores, who is assigned with the Napolcom inspection, monitoring and investigation service – the unit that handles complaints against erring officers and personnel of the Philippine National Police, is facing a complaint for grave threats before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office.

He vowed to hold Flores, who was allegedly drunk at the time of incident, accountable.

“The QCPD reiterates its commitment in upholding the law, order and public safety without exception and assures the public that all cases are handled with fairness, impartiality and strict observance of due process,” Silvio said in a statement.

Napolcom vice chairman and executive officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan has ordered an administrative investigation on Flores and apologized to the victim.

“The Napolcom does not condone this kind of behavior. Being a government employee is not a license to threaten, abuse or show power,” Calinisan said in a statement in Filipino.