Manila: The former chief of the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group's (PNP-HPG) Investigation Management Division is facing criminal and administrative complaints for allegedly assaulting a rookie officer over a parking dispute. In a press briefing held at Camp Crame, PNP-HPG director Brig. Gen. Hansel Marantan said they have filed physical injury and grave threat charges against Col. Helson Walin before the Quezon City Prosecutors' Office. Walin is also facing an administrative case before the PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS).
According to Philippines News Agency, Marantan stated that the development would put an end to allegations of him favoring Walin, his classmate at the PNP Academy. He commented, "So that's good because there were insinuations. I can't dismiss that, so that's okay. The ball is no longer with the HPG anymore."
Reports indicated that Walin allegedly kicked, pointed a firearm, and hit the head and upper lip of the patrolman with the end of a firearm. The incident was caught on video, which eventually circulated online. The injuries sustained by the rookie officer, who is assigned to the Intelligence Branch of the Regional Highway Patrol Unit-National Capital Region, were confirmed through a medico-legal examination.
The victim recounted that the incident occurred on Dec. 16 while he was walking inside the camp after attending to a vehicle with a tire lock. He claimed that the officer suddenly got out of his vehicle, loaded his firearm, pointed it at him and kicked him. The victim said the encounter lasted nearly 30 minutes and involved verbal threats, punches, and kicks. He also denied blocking the officer's path and stated they had no prior personal interaction.
In related developments, Marantan highlighted the success of anti-carnapping and traffic law enforcement efforts that led to the interception of a cargo truck in San Simon, Pampanga for multiple violations on Dec. 25. "A lawful inspection resulted in the discovery of suspected contraband cigarettes, and a subsequent follow-up operation uncovered more than 1,400 master cases of illicit cigarettes valued at approximately PHP120 million," Marantan said.
Throughout the year, the PNP-HPG conducted over 109,000 enforcement operations under Presidential Decree No. 96, addressing the unauthorized use of sirens, bells, horns, and flashing lights. They removed over 55,000 unsafe and unauthorized vehicle accessories, issued more than 530,000 traffic citations, and recovered over 1,000 stolen motor vehicles and motorcycles. "More importantly, through these recovery operations and coordination with vehicle owners and partner agencies, the PNP-HPG successfully returned 27,316 stolen motor vehicles and motorcycles to their rightful and registered owners," Marantan added.
