The Philippine National Police Chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, on Thursday apologized for berating the police officer who was caught in a viral video shooting a 52-year-old woman to death.
Eleazar's dressing-down of Master Sergeant Hensie Zinampan is also widely circulated on social media. The PNP chief was seen grabbing the suspect by his shirt and slamming him against the wall multiple times.
It was viewed at least 2.5 million times on Twitter alone. Netizens were angered by the lack of professionalism and called out the video as a "poor show" of drama.
"Humihingi ako ng dispensa doon sa outburst of my emotions. Para isang tatay lang na tinatangkilik 'yung mga anak na gumagawa ng tama pero sa kabila ng puro pakiusap, may walanghiyang anak," Eleazar told ANC.
Eleazar said he should have been more circumspect in handling his emotions. "Hindi kami magkukunsinti ng ating mga kapulisan kung sakali man."
The PNP chief earlier issued a separate public apology over the killing of 52-year-old Lilibeth Valdez at the hands of Zinampan. He said Valdez was killed like a chicken to slaughter.
Zinampan denied killing the woman, until he was confronted by a viral video. Eleazar thanked the person who uploaded the clip, which he said showed enough evidence to file criminal and administrative charges.
To address the mental health fitness of police officers, Eleazar said the PNP would improve its recruitment and recommended neuropsychiatric tests.
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