MANILA, Philippines — To rectify an “injustice” committed against someone who was only doing his job, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday urged the local police to reinstate a relieved policeman who claimed the convoy of Vice President Sara Duterte’s convoy was passing when enforcers stopped the flow of traffic on Commonwealth Avenue.
Duterte earlier claimed she was in Mindanao, denying she caused the traffic along the busy road.
Belmonte made the call to Quezon City Police District following her clarification with Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acting chairman Romando Artes, who said that it is only normal to give courtesy for VIPs — like vice president — in public roads.
Belmonte stressed that she did not react at first when Executive Master Sergeant Verdo Pantollano was relieved by the QCPD, since she was under the impression the police officer had committed a wrongdoing by stopping traffic.
However, the mayor said she decided to speak up when Artes made the clarification.
“Following the clarification made by Chairman Artes, I feel that an injustice was committed against Pantollano and must be rectified, regardless of who the VIP was,” Belmonte said in a statement.
“The cop must be reinstated as he was simply doing his job,” she added.
Belmonte also noted that the MMDA did not relieve nor take any action against the personnel who were present during the incident.
