GUMACA, Quezon – A police officer was relieved after he was involved in a traffic altercation with a truck driver and his helper that went viral on social media on Thursday afternoon, October 26, on the Maharlika Highway in Barangay Rizal, this town.
MAP of Gumaca, Quezon.
The police officer was identified as Police Chief Master Sgt. Reynan Luminario, assigned to the Gumaca Municipal Police Station.
Luminario, who was recently awarded the Medalya ng Papuri by the Quezon Police Provincial Office for the successful conduct of a manhunt operation that resulted in the arrest of two suspects in a robbery incident here, was not wearing a police uniform when the incident happened.
The truck driver and his helper were unidentified.
Investigation said Luminario temporarily parked his Toyota Grandia van in a “No Parking Zone” in front of a convenience store to purchase something.
Luminario’s vehicle impeded traffic, prompting the truck driver to blow his vehicle’s horn several times.
The police officer noticed the situation and returned to his van, resulting in a heated altercation among the truck driver, helper, and Luminario.
The incident was recorded in a video and circulated on social media. In the video, the helper was holding a metal rod while bystanders, Non-Uniformed Personnel Febie Torculas, and a traffic enforcer pacified them.
Luminario slapped the back of the head of the helper and the driver and the helper left the area.
The relief order against Luminario was effective October 26 and he was reassigned to the Regional Holding and Accounting Section (RPHAS) of the Police Regional Office 4-A in Camp Vicente Lim, Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna.
Luminario is undergoing investigation by the Quezon Police Provincial Office.
Mayor Webster Letargo here condemned the incident. “I do not tolerate such work by persons in authority. The No. 1 task of the police is to serve and protect. We will not allow the public servant to treat the people like that. The police itself should maintain the peace and not violate the existing laws,” he said.
Letargo apologized to persons hurt and affected by Lumnario’s behavior. “I pray that the travelers passing through our town will always be safe,” he said.
The mayor thanked the leadership of the regional and provincial police office for their swift action against Luminario.