By Erma Edera
A police officer has been relieved from his post on Friday after he allegedly beat up a minor in Pandacan, Manila.
Manila Police District (MANILA BULLETIN)
Manila Police District (MPD) Chief Brig. Bernabe Balba ordered the sacking of Police MSgt. Dennis Piad, who was assigned at the MPD Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU).
A closed circuit television footage, that went viral on social media, showed that Piad apparently lost his patience when some children broke the window of his car.
The viral video showed the policeman roaming around a residential area when he suddenly kicked and banged the head of the child on a post. Moments later, he also beat up other minors in the area.
According to one of the minors’ mother, only identified as “Minda”, her son only hit the glass window of the car but he did not break it.
“Yung anak ko iika-ika lumakad, tapos meron siyang parang galos sa leeg niya na tanda siguro ng pagkakahawak sa kanya. Kung may kasalanan man yung anak ko, sa maayos na proseso na lang sana. Hindi yung siya yung nanakit dun sa anak ko,” she said.
PLt. Josette Saturnino, Women and Children Protection Desk chief of Pandacan Police Station, said children’s rights should be respected.
“Although nagkamali yung bata, yung actuation na ganun hindi dapat, hindi nararapat, kasi igalang pa rin dapat ang karapatan ng bata,” she said.
According to Police Lt. Col. Carlo Manuel, chief of MPD Public Information Office, administrative and criminal charges might be filed against Piad.
Meanwhile, Balba ordered Pandacan Police Station to probe the incident.
The Manila top cop said that he would not tolerate any unlawful acts of his personnel.