President Duterte is interested to meet the Manila traffic enforcer who kept calm despite being assaulted by a motorist.
In a televised address Monday night, May 31, the President praised the government personnel for showing grace under pressure and not hitting back at the traffic violator.
Duterte admitted though that if the law enforcer knew the person had allegedly been a drug courier, he would have reacted differently.
"Kita mo naman how a government personnel would handle the situation. Nagpabugbog lang siya kasi babae not knowing na courier ‘yan. Kay kung nalaman nila na may shabu diyan, they were couriers, eh hindi ganoon ang reaksyon ng kuwan. Talagang hulihin ‘yan at kung baliin ‘yong kamay, baliin mo (Look at how a government would handle the situation. He allowed to be beaten because she's a woman, not knowing the person was a courier. If they knew there was shabu, they were couriers, the reaction would have been different. The person will be arrested and if you need to break the arm, do it)," the President said during a televised address Monday, May 31.
"Eh iniipit niya ‘yong kamay ng... Tama ‘yon. Gusto kong makilala ‘yong ano, ‘yong... You know, it was a grace under --- grace under ano. Basta’t tumindig lang ‘yon doon (The person tried to wedge the hand.. that's right. I want to meet the enforcer. You know it was grace under --- He just stood there)," he said.
READ: Female driver arrested, charged for assaulting a traffic enforcer in Manila
According to the President, the traffic violator may face charges of direct assault, among others, after laying hands on the traffic enforcer who he said is considered "an agent of a person in authority."
"'Yong nangyari doon sa ‘yong babae na ayaw magpaaresto tapos pinaghahampas niya ‘yong traffic aide or auxiliary, whatever, eh iyon ay agent of a person in authority (The woman who refused to be arrested and hit the traffic aide or auxiliary, whatever, that person is an agent of a person in authority)," he pointed out.
"Iyong babae mayroon ‘yon, direct assault. At ah --- iyon ‘yong kaso, iyong kaso niya from slight o serious physical injuries. So ang mabigat doon is iyong direct assault niya aside from resisting an arrest )The woman can face charges of direct assault, from slight to serious physical injuries. The direct assault is the heavy charge aside from resisting an arrest)," said Duterte, a former prosecutor.
The confrontation would have turned violent if there were guns and illegal drugs involved, according to the President. He claimed that the country's cops and solders are "trained to kill," adding suspects who resist arrest or fight back may likely face death.
"Ngayon, kung may baril ‘yon, ah barilan na. May mamamatay na naman (Now, if there were guns, there could have been a shootout. There would have been deaths)," he added.
"Itong mga durugista eh ilaban mo sa pulis, ilaban mo diyan sa military na may training, talagang mamamatay ‘yan sigurado. And sabihin mo na sinadya na patay, hindi ‘yan. Lumaban talaga ‘yan (If the drug suspects fight with cops, military with training, they will certainly get killed. If you say it was deliberate, it's not. They fought back)," he added.
A 26-year-old woman driver was recently apprehended for assaulting and disobeying a traffic enforcer in Manila.
The motorist driving a white sports utility vehicle was flagged down by Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) enforcer Marcos Anzures along Osmeña Highway after supposedly disregarding traffic signs last Thursday morning. Initial reports showed the motorist was driving without license.
The Manila police later reported that the driver apprehended for hitting the traffic enforcer supposedly turned out to be a drug courier.
READ: Woman nabbed for hitting Manila traffic enforcer tests positive for drug use