The Philippine National Police on Wednesday relieved three of its personnel who figured in A scuffle with four American servicemen, who are taking part in the ongoing Philippine-US Balikatan exercise, inside a nightspot in Puerto Princesa City last Saturday.
PNP spokesman Chief Supt Wilben Mayor said the three cops could face summary dismissal proceedings.
The policemen were identified as Supt Ariel Celino, deputy police chief of Puerto Princesa City, Senior Insp. Winner Paguia, City police spokesman and SPO2 Jimmy Dalumpines.
A videotape of the incident was posted over social networking sites and became viral showing a Filipino policeman being hit by an American soldier by a bottle of beer after the latter was irked at the cops’ apparent improper acts.
The incident sparked tension after another policeman, who was displeased at the acts of the American soldier, stood up drawing other US soldier’s attention. This prompted the policemen to draw their guns and aimed at the foreigners.
The bar’s owner and his employees tried to defuse the tension but failed and the incident escalated into a brawl between American soldiers and Filipino policemen. The Americans left the nightspot after the incident.
A US military official, meanwhile said that appropriate action would be imposed on the four US servicemen.
“Appropriate actions, which will be at their command’s discretion, will be taken at their home stations. US military personnel appreciate the opportunity to experience the local culture while training in the Philippines and are expected to abide by an established liberty policy at all times while doing so,” he added.
“The US military demands high standards of conduct from service members at all times and takes all incidents involving potential misconduct very seriously,” the US official said.
Capt. Celeste Frank Sayson, Balikatan spokesman for the Philippine side, said that those involved in the altercation settled their differences and no complaint was filed.
Around 5,000 US servicemen are currently participating in the Balikatan exercise being held in various parts of the country.
