Traffic police chief denies humiliating officer

The traffic police chief earlier denounced by a group of non-commissioned police officers for his alleged "inhuman disciplinary" actions has denied having stuffed an old cloth patch into the mouth of a Pasay City officer in full view of other traffic policemen.

In a letter sent to The STAR, Traffic Enforcement Group (TEG) director Senior Superintendent Philmore Balmaceda said the allegations of the Manila’s Finest Brotherhood Association Inc. (MFBAI) were "without basis and completely hearsay."

According to him, after the flag raising ceremony last Aug. 15, he personally conducted a spot inspection of uniforms and haircuts on a small number of TEG policemen.

Balmaceda said he noticed SPO1 Alberto Ignacio of Pasay City wearing two cloth patches – an old orange TEG cloth patch sewed on the uniform and a new TEG-MMDA cloth patch that was placed on top of the old patch.

Balmaceda said he removed the new cloth patch by hand, contrary to allegations by the MFBAI that he removed it with a cutter. He denied having stuffed the patch into the mouth of Ignacio.

He said he had no intention to humiliate Ignacio in public, but to instill discipline and make them obey the lawful and updated orders and directives of headquarters, especially the directive of the MMDA chairman on wearing the new patch. – Nestor Etolle