Nerez: Bayarcal and Pilapil should have observed respect

CEBU, Philippines - If Police Regional Office Director Lani-o Nerez were to assess the situation, a certain “level of respect” could have avoided the untoward incident involving Provincial Police Office Traffic Section chief Andres Bayarcal and former provincial legal officer Danilo Pilapil last Monday.

Bayarcal and Pilapil clashed when Bayarcal placed Pilapil under arrest when the lawyer insistent that the police release his client who figured in a vehicular accident, despite the police having yet to file a formal complaint relative to the incident.

“Dili ingon na ang usa mu-appear mas labaw sa usa or vice-versa. The basic virtue of respect should have been in each other unta like the way you deliver your point, not to the point na you hurt each other’s feelings,” Nerez said.

Nerez said respect is a “vital tool” for people, especially those in law enforcement agencies, to use in dialogues to avoid potential trouble.

Saying that he understood both the sides of Bayarcal and Pilapil, Nerez hopes that the incident between Bayarcal and Pilapil would serve as a lesson for law enforcement agencies to always observe diplomacy through a dialogue.

Pilapil’s client, Harvey Magali, was detained after he reportedly turned himself over to authorities about six hours after hitting a 45-year-old man with his vehicle in Lower Busay shortly before midnight last Saturday. He also allegedly fled and left the victim. — Niña G. Sumacot/JMO(FREEMAN NEWS)