By Ade S. Fajardo
Sometimes it is a case of the police shooting themselves in the foot.
Instead of sending the message that they are doing their jobs, the Quezon City Police District had to defend themselves from insinuations that they were blocking efforts from a cyclist to file charges against a former policeman identified as Wilfredo Gonzales who was recorded brandishing a pistol while slapping and subjecting the cyclist to public humiliation.
The video of the incident was shared many times over social media during the long weekend.
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The QCPD hosted a press conference where Gonzales was allowed to rant against the alleged irresponsibility of the vlogger who circulated the video.
Netizens have a term for this: “gaslighting,” which means manipulating someone using psychological methods into questioning their own sanity or powers of reasoning.
Gonzales said he pitied his family and friends for bearing the brunt of his infamy.
The presscon was interpreted as a favor to a “kabaro,” or someone who used to serve in the force.
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In the meantime, the Philippine National Police (PNP) central leadership had the better sense to strip Gonzales of his gun privileges.
The PNP announced yesterday that Gonzales’ license to carry firearms has been revoked.
PNP information officer Brigadier General Rederico Maranan confirmed that Gonzales used to be a policeman who was dismissed from the service in 2018. Maranan said that Gonzales “owns three firearms and his LTOPF was already revoked as ordered by the Chief PNP General Benjamin Acorda, Jr.”
This disqualification to own or possess firearms is perpetual.
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The incident transpired on August 8 but became viral over the weekend because the cyclist’s lawyer Raymond Fortun said that the cyclist “was forced to sign an agreement that they had agreed upon and he admitted that he was at fault. Not only that — he even paid P500 because he scratched the ex-policeman’s car.”
In a Facebook post titled “Justice Is Not Dead,” Fortun shared screenshots of the cyclist narrating the coercion that led to the signing of the agreement.
The person who took the video has also been reportedly harassed into silence.
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Fortun announced that even without a private complainant he will pursue the filing of complaints so that the Land Transportation Office will be compelled to suspend or revoke Gonzales’ driver’s license for driving in a reckless manner that threatened the cyclist’s life.
A complaint will also be filed for conduct unbecoming of a public officer or employee should it turn out that Gonzales is currently employed in government.
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In the not so olden times wrongdoers hounded by newspaper reporters and television cameramen called the media attention “trial by publicity.”
This time, almost every motorist has dash cams or mobile phones and might as well be a modern cameraman without the wieldy equipment.
The facility by which to record public events has become a useful tool for solving crimes. It can also fan public outrage that will help deter patronage and case fixing.
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The cyclist’s case was an unfolding crime that was recorded by a by-passer in a busy road.
Article 285 of the Revised Penal Code penalizes as a criminal offense the act of threatening another with a weapon, or drawing such weapon in a quarrel, unless it be in a lawful self-defense.
It is difficult to see how Gonzales can make an argument invoking his right to privacy./WDJ