QC vendor released

The fish vendor who was beaten up by a quarantine enforcer in Quezon City was released from detention yesterday.

A report from the Quezon City Police District said Michael Rubuia was freed and welcomed by his family in good condition.

Rubuia was assisted by officials of the city government and a representative from the Commission on Human Rights.

He will no longer face charges for supposedly violating measures put in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

On Monday, Joel Laurel and barangay watchmen accosted Rubuia for going out without face mask and a quarantine pass.

Videos, which went viral online, showed Laurel beating Rubuia with a yantok or rattan stick and dragging him to the ground for allegedly resisting arrest.

Ranulfo Ludovica, who heads the city’s Task Force Disiplina, said Laurel was suspended for 60 days.

Cop relieved for hitting boy, 13

Meanwhile, a police officer has been relieved from his post for allegedly hitting a 13-year-old boy with a stick for violating quarantine rules in Quezon City.

Cpl. Albert Aquino of the police community precinct 1 was put on floating status at the Batasan police station.

Aquino was caught on video arguing with the boy’s mother while holding an arnis stick.

He denied hitting the minor, saying there was a commotion in the area where the minor could have been hurt.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Franciso Gamboa ordered Quezon City police director Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo to probe Aquino.

Cops with COVID climb to 96

The number of PNP personnel infected with COVID-19 rose to 96 as three more police officers tested positive for the virus yesterday.

The new patients are two men and a woman aged 28 to 30.

The PNP said 12 police officers have recovered from the disease.