The PNP claims to be serious about going after rogue cops. But in the case of Police Corporal Marvin Castro in Manila the PNP seem to no care about his misbehavior.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/854980/manila-cop-in-hot-water-over-confrontation-with-ust-judo-juniors-team-members/story/ |
A policeman in Manila is in hot water for allegedly bringing out his service firearm during a confrontation with members of the UST Judo Juniors Team, according to Darlene Cay's report on Unang Balita on Tuesday.
The report said six jubilant members of the team aged 12 to 17 years old were walking along a street in Sampaloc, Manila around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday following a victory in a competition when they were approached by the policeman for being noisy.
(We thought at first that he would just congratulate us, but he was aggressive.)
The policeman allegedly brought out a handcuff and invited the team to board a police mobile. When they students refused, the policeman allegedly brought out his service firearm.
(He held his gun. He said he did that because I was looking at his gun. That's unlikely.)
Another member of the team said they panicked because they did not know what to do.
(We really did not know what to do. Of course we are just kids. Who would want someone to bring out a gun in front of you.)
The students, who were still wearing their uniforms and medals, then contacted their coach.
The policeman, identified as Police Corporal Marvin Castro, apologized to the students and their parents and coaches when they faced each other at the barangay hall.
(They were not listening to me. I was asking them to stop but they would not stop.)
Castro said he felt threatened by the team.
When the parents brought the issue to the police station, a parent said they were urged to just drop the complaint in the spirit of Christmas.
(They asked us to drop the complaint in the spirit of Christmas. They asked us to just talk to Castro because they said he is a good cop. But what if something happened to our children? What about the psychological effect on them?)
The Manila Police District (MPD) is already looking into the incident.
According to MPD director Police Brigadier General Andre Dizon, Castro felt "imminent danger" in the presence of the students.
(We he confronted them, the students moved as if they were about to attack him, which prompted him to hold his gun, according to our station commander. He just made sure that he would be on self-defense. As long as he did not point the gun at somebody, then it shows that he had no intention of firing it.)
Castro has been barred from doing rounds in the area while the investigation is ongoing. He was also asked to surrender his service firearm.
Officer Castro confronted a group of students, threatened to arrest them, and even pulled out his service weapon. The parents of the students brought a complaint to the local police station but instead of reprimanding Officer Castro the parents were implored to drop the complaint "in the spirit of Christmas" because he is a good cop!
Does that sound like the PNP are serious about getting all the rotten eggs and rogue cops off the force? Maybe at heart Castro is a good cop. Maybe he just got flustered and misinterpreted the intent of the students who were celebrating a victory for their judo team. Or maybe this cops has a history of going off the rails and power tripping. Either way for the PNP to suggest these parents dismiss the complaint against a misbehaving officer "in the spirit of Christmas" just shows they are not serious in getting rid of abusive rogue cops.
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