Senator Panfilo Lacson asked the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to investigate the foreign national who allegedly challenged the law enforcers about the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) rules at Dasmariñas Village in Makati City.
On Monday, an online news website broke the story about the foreigner identified as Javier Parra, who was being handcuffed by the authorities for allegedly violating the ECQ rules.
In the video recorded by the cops who confronted Parra, it showed the foreigner repeatedly cursed at them and asked to leave his property.
The cops even discovered that the foreigner was drinking alcohol despite the liquor ban being implemented by the government.
Lacson slammed Parra’s “arrogant and demeaning behavior” towards the cops who were only following orders and trying to maintain peace and order amid the COVID-19 crisis.
The Senator was also saddened by the criticisms received by the cops because of the video uploaded on the internet showing Parra being forced to go with the police.
“As if this were not enough, the police officers were subjected to unfair criticisms from netizens who saw the “edited” version of the video,” Lacson said.
Lacson who’s also a former head of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said that giving jobs to the people doesn’t give them right to disrespect the law enforcers.
Parra claimed during the confrontation that he hired 80 Filipinos in his business.
According to Lacson, BI should investigate the foreigner and deport him if needed.
“On the other hand, being an “investor with 80 employees” as he claimed does not give the foreigner the right to confront and incessantly berate a police officer who is merely performing a risky duty in the manner that he did,” he said.
“The Bureau of Immigration may have to look into the matter. If a deportation proceeding is in order, they should act swiftly and decisively,” he added.
“Arrogance has no place in our country – especially so in a situation where either all of us win, or all of us lose to the COVID-19 threat,” he also said.
On Monday, the Barangay Captain of Dasmariñas Village Rossana Hwang also defended the cops, saying that Parra committed illegal actions in front of the police officers.
She also said that they stopped attempting to handcuff Parra when they got informed about the latter’s condition.
“PSMS (Roland) Madrona let go of him out of humanitarian reasons. In the meantime, backup arrived. The superior of PSMS Madrona,Major Anthony Bagsik, decided to just blotter the incident because the wife was pleading with him. Major Bagsik discussed with me to summon them and have the lupon mediate between PSMS Madrona and the resident to not blow up the matter. PSMS Madrona had to follow his superior’s decision. So they thought all is well that ends well,” Hwang said.