Cop in NLEX road rage video relieved from post

A police officer who was in a viral video of a road rage incident in Quezon City was relieved from duty, it was reported on Thursday.

According to Jun Veneracion’s report on 24 Oras, a video that went viral in social media showed a man wearing shorts and a t-shirt pointing a gun at a cargo truck at the Mindanao Avenue Toll Plaza of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). 

After the truck driver disembarked from his vehicle, the armed man forced the driver to the ground, kicking the victim in the process. The video, taken by another motorist, stopped after the man handcuffed the truck driver.

It was discovered that the man with the gun was a policeman assigned to the Philippine National Police  Civil Security Group.

Investigation revealed that prior to the altercation at the toll plaza, the truck allegedly hit the policeman's car but drove away from the scene, causing the cop to chase the truck up to the toll plaza. It was reported the two parties agreed on a settlement but police said that does not absolve the cop in the video.

“Na-relieve na siya doon sa kanyang puwesto sa SAC Fairview and pina-orderan na i-turnover ang kanyang baril,” said Police Lieutenant Colonel Eudisan Gultiano, PNP Civil Security Group spokesperson. 

(He was relieved from his position at SAC Fairview and has been ordered to turn over his firearm.) 

Part of the investigation is to determine whether the truck driver's arrest  was part of police standard operating procedure.

“We will assure the public na if mapatunayan na may violations on the part of our personnel, we will be filing appropriate administrative charges, and sanctions will be given sa ating personnel,” Gultiano told reporters. 

(We will assure the public that if it is proven that there are violations on the part of our personnel, we will be filing appropriate administrative charges, and sanctions will be given to our personnel.) 

The PNP official advised both police and the public to act calmly, especially when driving.
—Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News