Cop in hot water after pointing gun at woman in Tondo dispute

A woman in Manila is seeking help after a policeman allegedly pointed a gun at her last January 2, according to a 24 Oras report by Emil Sumangil on Wednesday.

CCTV footage of the incident in Perla Street, Tondo, Manila showed Police Corporal Mark Anthony Mel allegedly cocking a gun and pointing it at victim “Stella”.

“May nagsusugal po doon sa pinakakanto ng inuman namin. Tapos huminto siya doon, sinabi niya itigil niyo na 'yan. Hindi po [siya nagpakilalang pulis]. Tinanong na po siya ng mga pinsan ko tsaka yung barkada ko na, “Sir, pulis ka ba? Patingin po kami ng ID niyo.” Ayaw niya pong ilabas,” said Stella.

(There were some people gambling at the corner of our place. The cop stopped there and told them to stop. He didn’t say he was police. My cousin and his friends asked if he was a policeman and asked him for ID. He refused to show identification.) 

“Nung mararamdaman niya na pong nilalabas ko na po yung cellphone ko para videohan siya, bigla niyang kinuha na yung baril tapos ikinasa niya...tinutok niya sa akin dito tapos dinikdik pa sa akin. Halos 'di na ko makatulog gabi-gabi tapos 'di na rin po ako makakain nang maayos kasi iniisip ko po 'yun. Sinabi niya po sa akin na gusto mo patayin na talaga kita ginaganun niya na po ako,” she added.

(When he felt I was taking out my cellphone to take his video, he took out his gun and cocked it… he pointed the gun at me. I can’t sleep anymore, I have trouble eating because of what happened. He asked me if I wanted him to kill me.) 

Accompanied by her mother, Stella filed a complaint with the Manila Police District, who coordinated with the Southern Police District where the said suspect was assigned.

“Ang nalabag na kaso ng ating pulis dito ay grave threat. Maliban po doon, mayroon pa siyang kakaharapin na administrative case. It's a grave misconduct. Hindi po tayo basta-basta tututok o bubunutin man lang ang ating baril kung wala naman tayong nakikita o nararamdaman na banta sa ating buhay,” said MPD chief Police Colonel Arnold Thomas Ibay.

(The policeman in question is facing a grave threat complaint. Aside from that he has an administrative case for grave misconduct. A cop does not just pull out his firearm and aim it at people if they see or sense any threat on his life.)

According to the SPD, the suspect’s issued service firearm has been confiscated while the case against him is ongoing.

The suspect has since been reassigned to district headquarters while the investigation is being conducted on the incident.

Mel has declined to give a statement. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News