By Chito Chavez

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo M. Año has cited the Baguio traffic cop who stood his ground to enforce the law despite almost being run over by an intoxicated cab driver.

He also asked the Supreme Court (SC) to probe the alleged “bullying done by a judge for the release of the suspect from police custody.”

Referring to a viral video, Año said Patrolman Julius Walang was literally hanging on for his life as he performed his sworn duty.

“May you be an inspiration, not just to the police officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP), but to all of us in law enforcement as we perform our duty on a daily basis,” Año said.

In the viral video that was also aired over mainstream media, Walang, who is assigned to the Baguio City Traffic Enforcement Unit, courageously barred the way and held tightly onto the hood of the cab driven by Jone Dominguez Buclay, who tried to flee being ticketed for a traffic violation.

Walang accosted the cabbie and tried to issue him a citation ticket for causing traffic along Abanao Street in Baguio City.

The taxi driver was later brought to the police station where he was found to be under the influence of alcohol. He will face charges of direct assault upon an agent of authority, driving under the influence of liquor, resisting arrest, making grave threats, and oral defamation.

The DILG chief will also request SC Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta to investigate a certain judge who allegedly bullied and shouted at the police officers at the Baguio City Police Station to secure the untimely and immediate release of the taxi driver.

According to the police officers on duty at the station, the judge suddenly barged into the police station, shouted at them, and tried to intimidate them without even asking what really transpired during the incident.

That same judge was also seen leaving the police station together with the taxi driver-suspect.

“There is a proper forum to secure the release of the suspect and that is not the police station. He must wait for the police to process the case, the prosecutor to file charges against the suspect, and for the case to be raffled to his sala before he can assume jurisdiction. The said judge has to follow the law, just like all of us. As a guardian of the law, a judge must serve as an example in following the law and not in breaking it,” Año said.

He said “such a complete disregard of the law and use of the padrino (patronage) system should never be tolerated and is very unbecoming of him as an arbiter of the law.”