Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 8) — Authorities are conducting a fact-finding investigation on an alleged assault involving a female driver of a ride-hailing company and a police officer.
“[National Capital Region Police Office] is conducting a separate and distinct fact-finding investigation regarding this matter to determine the fault of the cop, if any,” Metro Manila chief Debold Sinas said in a statement on Thursday.
“We are also encouraging the lady driver to coordinate with us and file a case against the subject police officer if his actions warrant such,” he added.
On Tuesday, the Grab driver, identified as Mary Florence Norial, was arrested in Taguig City for purportedly assaulting a police officer.
The Taguig City Police Station Investigation and Detective Management Section said in a spot report released to the media on Thursday that Norial was arrested for “alarm and scandal” as well as “direct assault.”
The report claimed that the suspect confronted Saquilayan while he was in his car which was parked along the driveway of a coffee shop. Saquilayan was said to be waiting for his daughter to get out of Starbucks at the time.
Saquilayan then allegedly reported Norial to the commercial establishment’s security guard for making a scene. After getting the guard’s attention, Norial “hit the victim on his head,” prompting Saquilayan to arrest her, the report stated.
The report also accused Norial of being “unruly,” “resisting” arrest and having tried to “flee” the scene.
Self-defense
In a video posted on Facebook, Norial admitted she slapped Saquilayan in the face, but maintained Saquilayan attacked her first, so she had to fight back.
She said she was just asking the police officer not to obstruct the driveway since she needed to bring a passenger to her destination.
“Nag pick up ako ng pasahero sa Starbucks, ngayon kahit anong pakiusap ko sa sundalo na nasa harap ay ayaw umalis,” Norial said. “Naka 20 [minutes] na ata kaming naghihintay ng pasahero.”
[Translation: I picked up a passenger in Starbucks. Despite my repeated plea to move his car, he did not want to do it. I think we waited for 20 minutes.]
“Nakiusap na din ang security guard at manager ng Starbucks pero ayaw umalis hanggang sa itinulak ako ng sundalo gamit yung car door nya at nasubsob ako sa bushes,” she continued. “Sinampal ko siya sa mukha pabalik gawa ng self defense [nang] bigla nyang binaligtad na sinaktan ko daw sya kaya ginapos nya ako gamit kamay nya at isunubsob sa glass window ng Starbucks.”
[Translation: Both the manager and security guard of the Starbucks asked him to move his car, but to no avail. That was when he shoved me using his car door. I ended up on the bushes. I slapped him as a self-defense and that was when he tried to spin the story. He said I hit him so he cuffed me using his hands and slammed me against the glass window of Starbucks.]
In a statement, Grab Philippines said it will provide bail assistance to Norial.
