Prosecutor's Office clears cop in viral road rage video of frustrated murder charges
Road rage videos have become a common sight on social media, but one incident that went viral on May 12 quickly drew public attention after footage appeared to show a police officer deliberately pushing a fellow rider off the road along C-5 in Pasig City.
The incident sparked outrage online and led the authorities to file criminal complaints for frustrated murder and malicious mischief against the Police Staff Sergeant who was assigned to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).
NAPOLCOM Commissioner, Ralph Calinisan, strongly condemned the incident after watching the viral video, stressing that law enforcement personnel are expected to uphold the highest standards of discipline, professionalism, and accountability. He added that misconduct involving police officers not only tarnishes the image of the organization, but also erodes public trust in law enforcement institutions.
Recently, the Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office dismissed the frustrated murder and malicious mischief complaints filed against the police officer involved in the viral road rage incident, stating in its 14-page resolution that NAPOLCOM failed to present sufficient evidence to establish probable cause for the charges.
Instead, the prosecutors recommended the filing of lesser charges of slight physical injuries with a bail set at PHP 3,000.
The police officer’s legal counsel, Atty. Ariel Inton, said that the complainant provoked the police officer, which resulted in the incident now immortalized in the viral road rage video.
“Doon po sa video makikita po nating umiiwas na nga siya eh. Pero hinahabol siya nitong complainant, yung complainant hinahabol siya. He is provoking the police officer at may sinasabi siyang, oh naka-video ka, ganyan,” said Inton.
(In the video, you can clearly see that he was already trying to avoid the situation. But the complainant kept chasing him. The complainant was pursuing him. He was provoking the police officer and was even saying things like, ‘Oh, you’re being recorded,’ and so on.)
Inton also criticized what he described as NAPOLCOM’s harsh response to a case now classified as slight physical injuries, questioning why his client allegedly faced severe sanctions over what he called a minor offense.
