FORMER Philippine National Police chief Nicholas Torre III defended police officers against what he described as “premature public judgment” in the ongoing investigation into the viral Pasig road rage incident involving a Quezon City Police District (QCPD) officer.
Torre, general manager of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), made the statement as authorities continue reviewing the circumstances surrounding the May 13 confrontation along C5 Road in Pasig City, where a police officer was seen in a viral video allegedly pushing a motorcycle rider off the road before fleeing.
The MMDA general manager said police personnel who commit wrongdoing should be held accountable, but warned against turning officers into “convenient sacrificial lambs for public applause” before all evidence is fully examined.
He also criticized what he called “trial by publicity” inside administrative proceedings, particularly after public statements from lawyer Ralph Calinisan regarding the case.
Torre said adjudicators should remain impartial while investigations are ongoing, stressing that evidence such as documents, witness testimony, CCTV footage and other facts must first be fully presented before conclusions are made.
“When a judge delivers judgment ahead of the process, that is no longer due process — that is prejudice,” Torre said.
Authorities arrested the QCPD officer involved in the incident, and criminal and administrative complaints were filed against him after the video of the incident made rounds online. However, subsequent reports indicated that investigators are also reviewing events that allegedly happened before the viral video clip, including claims that the confrontation stemmed from an earlier road encounter on C5 Road.
Torre said defending discipline in the police organization should not come at the expense of fairness and due process for personnel facing investigation.
