The head of the Philippine National Police’s Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) Investigation Management Division was relieved from his post after he purportedly physically attacked a patrolman in Camp Crame on December 16.

In an interview at Camp Crame, HPG Director PBGen. Hansel Marantan confirmed that the agency is presently preparing to file administrative and criminal charges against the police colonel, reported RH 52 Edniel Parrosa.

The official was accused of assaulting and threatening the victim’s life at gunpoint on Tuesday evening, following a Christmas party.

“So (the colonel) now is relieved as H7, and placed under PHAS. We have submitted (a) formal report of our actions taken before the office of the Chief PNP, before the office of the vice chair, and before the office of the SILG (Secretary of Interior and Local Government),” Marantan said.

He added that the victim has been subjected to medical examinations, the results of which will be used in filing the administrative and criminal cases, to be submitted “ASAP.”

The patrolman told reporters that he was fixing the HPG parking when the official rolled down his car window while holding a firearm. He was physically and verbally attacked for nearly half an hour, for no apparent reason, he said. The altercation was caught on camera and made rounds on social media.

According to Marantan, the official was angered by what he claimed was persistent disrespect towards him.

However, the patrolman denied that he and the official had ever interacted prior to the incident.

Marantan assured that he had the official under custody, although he later learned the individual was his former classmate.

“We have a newly-designated H7, he is now directed to conduct (a) thorough investigation (on) the said incident,” he said.