The head of the city’s Anti-Crime Task Force (ACTF) suspended on Wednesday one of its personnel who was involved in a traffic altercation with a private motorist.
Richard Ligad, chief of the ACTF, said he decided to suspend a certain Darlene “Noah” Cortado after the latter failed to appear in the investigation he conducted.
Ligad suspended Cortado after meeting with complainants Raymer Oclarit and Dr. Rey Magpantay who were accompanied by their lawyer Atty. Louchie Palanca.
He said he had determined that Cortado “lied” to him about the incident where he was accused of damaging the vehicle of Magpantay while violating traffic rules.
“Sabi niya wala namang nabangga na side mirror ‘yong motor niya. Hindi ‘yon ang sinasabi ng kabilang grupo… meron silang ebidensiya,” Ligad said.
He noted, however, that the erring ACTF member was off duty when the incident happened.
He said Cortado’s suspension will be “temporary” and will be enforced until he “first settles the problem.”
“Temporary hangga’t di niya nare-resolve ang problema niya, out na muna siya, naka-suspend muna siya,” Ligad said.
Ligad said he may impose additional sanctions against Cortado.
“May problema siya. Pag-aaralan muna natin ang iba pang pwedeng sanctions sa kanya kasi nagsinungaling din siya sa akin,” he said.
On August 13, Oclarit narrated an account on social media after figuring in an accident along the national highway in Barangay Tiniguiban while on his way to work.
Oclarit claimed that Cortado, who was riding a XR150 motorcycle, counter-flowed on his lane, forcing him to run into a Wigo car being driven by Magpantay.
“Pinilit kong iwasan pakanan ‘yong XR150 dahil sasalpok na siya sa akin. Kaso pag-iwas ko ay sumalpok ako sa kanang likod ng Wigo. Nag-crash ako, tumama ang dibdib ko sa manibela at ang ulo ko sa gutter. Mabuti na lang naka full-face helmet ako,” he said.
He said that after the incident, he went to the police station and also obtained copies of CCTV footage that can tell them where the XR150 went after the incident.
Oclarit said they were surprised to see that the motorcycle rider was wearing a jacket marked at the back with “Anti-Crime.”
