Quezon City Mayor Calls for Reinstatement of Policeman Involved in Traffic Confusion
Quezon City Mayor, Joy Belmonte, has urged the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director, Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, to reinstate the relieved policeman who was involved in the traffic confusion along Commonwealth Avenue on Thursday, October 5.
The policeman, Executive Master Sgt. Verdo Pantollano from the QCPD Holy Spirit Station (PS 14), was relieved from his post after he stopped the traffic flow on the westbound lane of Commonwealth Avenue. It was later discovered that he “mistakenly heard” that Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s vehicle was passing through the road. A video of the incident went viral on social media.
Following the incident, Maranan issued an apology to the public as well as to the Office of the Vice President for the inconvenience and confusion caused. He also explained that traffic management operations are part of the security measures they provide for very important persons (VIPs), including elected government officials, diplomats, and state guests.
The PS 14 also apologized, stating that their personnel misunderstood the word “VP,” leading them to temporarily halt traffic flow as a gesture of courtesy and for the vice president’s security.
In response, Lt. Col. May Genio, the PS 14 commander, relieved Pantollano from his duties to allow for an investigation into the incident and determine any administrative liability for his actions.
The local government, upon hearing Acting Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Ronaldo Artes’ statement regarding the courtesy given to VIPs, especially the President and the vice president when using public roads due to security concerns, decided to act. Artes also mentioned that the courtesy extends to foreign dignitaries, and the MMDA would devise a traffic management plan to prevent traffic congestion.
Initially, Mayor Belmonte did not react when Pantollano was relieved since she believed that he had committed a wrongdoing by stopping the traffic. However, after the clarification made by Chairman Artes and the observation that no action was taken against the MMDA personnel also present in the viral video, she decided to raise her voice.
“Following the clarification made by Chairman Artes, I feel that an injustice was committed against Pantollano and must be rectified, regardless of who the VIP was. The cop must be reinstated as he was simply doing his job,” stated the mayor.
The reinstatement of Pantollano will be crucial for establishing fairness and justice in this incident.
