NAPOLCOM dismisses 2 Manila cops over viral traffic incident
The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) has ordered the dismissal of two Manila Police District (MPD) officers after finding them administratively liable for a traffic incident along Taft Avenue in Manila that went viral on social media.
NAPOLCOM Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan said Wednesday that the commission en banc unanimously voted to dismiss Patrolmen Algrene Ar-ar Mirano Alcause and Jerome Caballa Toledo after finding them guilty of less grave irregularity in the performance of duty and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.
Calinisan said the decision was part of the commission's efforts to restore public trust in the police and end the culture of impunity through stricter accountability.
The case stemmed from an incident on 5 February 2026, when the two officers, aboard a marked police vehicle, allegedly cut off and blocked a motorist along Taft Avenue.
A video circulating online showed the police vehicle running a red light.
During NAPOLCOM's investigation, the officers initially claimed they were responding to a call for assistance and that their vehicle had suffered mechanical failure. However, they later recanted their explanation and publicly apologized.
At a press briefing on 19 February, Calinisan expressed dismay after discovering that the officers had provided false information when they appeared before the commission.
The officers' claim of mechanical failure was contradicted by the police vehicle's preventive maintenance report.
“Ang mas nakakadismaya rito, hindi lamang nila ginawa ang maling gawain, nagsinungaling pa sila sa akin nang personal silang humarap sa Commission upang ipaliwanag ang kanilang ginawa. They deliberately misrepresented the facts when given the opportunity to explain themselves. Kung sa mismong Commission ay nagsisinungaling sila, paano pa natin maaasahan na magiging tapat sila sa taumbayan?” Calinisan said.
In its ruling, NAPOLCOM found that the officers' admissions, the viral video and the vehicle's preventive maintenance report established their administrative liability.
The commission en banc reclassified the charge of less grave misconduct to less grave irregularity in the performance of duty on its own initiative, citing Rule 21, Section 2(B)(2)(e) of NAPOLCOM Memorandum Circular No. 2016-002.
It also absorbed the charge of simple misconduct and imposed dismissal from the service, citing the nationwide ridicule brought upon the Philippine National Police (PNP) by the incident.
NAPOLCOM reiterated that restoring public confidence in law enforcement requires consistent disciplinary action against erring officers.
The commission said it would continue exercising its oversight and disciplinary powers to ensure police personnel uphold the integrity of their uniform and remain accountable to the public.