CENTRAL Luzon police director Brig. Gen. Valeriano De Leon ordered the other day Angeles City police director to investigate and file charges against two Police Station 5 personnel, five Korean nationals and 12 Filipinos for breaching health protocols while making an April Fool’s video prank.
In his order to Col. Rommel Batangan, De Leon said the two patrolmen, whom he did not identify, must also face administrative charges for participating in the prank video by using a police patrol car and letting themselves be used senselessly at the height of COVID-19 pandemic.
In the video posted by SY Music Entertainment last April 2, the two policemen were shown arresting and bringing the manager of the said establishment to the marked police vehicle. The succeeding portions of the video showed all the participants and prank victims talking and sitting closely with one another without face masks and face shields.
Facing charges for violation of IATF rules and local quarantine ordinance include Kang Min Ho, Lee Eun Hwan Sun Donho, Kim Jenseok, and Yan Jae Hyuk, all Korean nationals; and Filipinos that include Aryan De Mesa, Klaid Christopher Diaz Tugade, Geraldine C Duran, Jennifer Mabilin, Michelle Anne Manalo, Diane Alexes Soquino, Marielle Shennen Uy, Cinderella Dizon Sallican, Edmond Brix Estacio, Leonid Alester Baterna, Gerson Arboleda and Oliver Francis Garcia.
Last Saturday, Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. directed Batangan to relieve all personnel of Police Station 5 due to its men’s participation in the prank video and file charges against the two patrolmen.
“For more than an entire year, members of our community have tirelessly complied with community quarantine measures, ‘stay-at-home’ orders, and strict public health protocols, all in a bid to slow down the spread of the virus.It is simply unconscionable that personnel from the Angeles City Police Office would participate in such nonsensical activities,” Lazatin told Batangan in a memorandum.
People’s Journal/People’s Tonight repeatedly tried to get comments from Batangan since last Saturday about the mayor’s directive but he did not answer his phone.
De Leon said last Sunday afternoon that he will not intervene with Lazatin’s directive to Batangan regarding the relief of all personnel of Police Station 5 here.
“We do not condone any misconduct and misdemeanor from our personnel especially in this time of pandemic. We are serious and stern in the implementation of IATF guidelines and we even risked our lives to contain the spread of the virus and their acts are unacceptable,” the PRO3 director said.
