The National Police Commission (Napolcom) on Monday presented a police officer to the public following a viral video that allegedly showed him intoxicated and threatening a civilian with a firearm in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte.

Napolcom commissioner Ralph Calinisan said the agency immediately intervened to demonstrate that abuses committed by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will face swift administrative action.

Calinisan ordered an automatic investigation and directed Napolcom’s Zamboanga Peninsula regional office to coordinate with regional police headquarters to file administrative charges of grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer against Police Cpl. Henry Torres Boquida Jr.

While Napolcom leads the administrative investigation, regional police are handling the criminal aspect of the case.

The civilian in the video, Elmer Bancairen, has filed a criminal complaint for grave threats against Boquida.

According to Napolcom, Boquida also faces a prior criminal case before the commission involving alleged violations of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004.

Calinisan stressed that the incident underscores the strict requirement for responsible firearm ownership among law enforcers.

“Carrying a firearm comes with a huge responsibility,” Calinisan said. “You swore to serve and protect the people, not to intimidate them or use violence against them. This is a signal to all our policemen to be more mindful and circumspect in the proper use of their firearms.”

The commissioner assured the public that Napolcom acts on all complaints of police abuse, regardless of whether they gain traction on social media.

“An incident does not need to go viral before we act,” Calinisan said. “We watch, listen and are ready to act every day on every complaint brought to us.”