Fisticuffs between two MPD officers trigger brawl among supporters

By Pat C. Santos

01/19/2010

A fistfight between two senior ranking police officers of the Manila Police District — one is detailed outside of MPD and another one is already retured — in front of the police headquarters along UN Avenue in Ermita yesterday led to a 15-minute brawl among their supporters inside the headquarters compound.

Several mediamen who were in the area witnessed the rumble, which broke out in front of the MPD Press Corps office around 1 p.m. and lasted for about 15 minutes before cooler heads stepped in.

The two MPD officers who enganged themselves in a fistfight were identified as retired Insp. Rico Miranda and Supt. Joveth Asayo, now detailed at the office of former Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Joselito Atienza.

Reports said that when Asayo alighted from his van, Miranda approached him and suddenly punched him in the face. That started the fistfight among themselves.

While the two were fighting, their six supporters had themselves locked in a verbal tussle. A few seconds later, they swung at each other and that started the brawl.

They were later prevented by several cooler heads inside the MPD headquarters.

MPD Chief Supt. Rodolfo Magtibay immediately ordered an investigation into the case and directed the MPD-General Assignment Section (GAS) to spearhead the probe.

“We were able to move the two warring camps apart. We are now conducting investigation into the case,” Magtibay told reporters.

Magtibay also exerted efforts to explain that two cops — Miranda and Asayo — were not under his direct supervision as Miranda had already retired from police service and Asayo was detailed at the office of Atienza. Incidentally, Atienza resigned from his post at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to focus on his campaign for Manila City’s mayoral post.

The official added that based on the initial report, Asayo and Miranda had a previous quarrel but he refused to elaborate.

Meanwhile, a source inside the MPD headquarters revealed that the quarrel of two police officials started when Asayo reportedly ordered the arrest of Miranda’s son, also a policeman, after the latter was reportedly caught conducting surveillance operation near his house.

“Nakaposas na ang anak ko sinusuntok mo pa (You continued hitting my son even though he was already handcuffed),” Miranda was heard as telling Asayo just before he swung at him.

As of yesterday, the two camps were reportedly planning to file charges and counter charges against each other.

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