The Pasig City Prosecutor's Office has dismissed the frustrated murder case filed against a police officer who was caught on video pushing a motorcycle rider during a traffic altercation along C5 Road.
The complaint was filed by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) against Staff Sergeant Erwin Lagua after the video of the incident went viral online. Initially, the QCPD filed charges of slight physical injuries and malicious mischief against Lagua, but later upgraded them to frustrated murder following a directive from National Police Commission (Napolcom) executive officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan.
Calinisan had criticized Lt. Col. Edison Ouano, head of the QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, and Cpl. Benito Catungal for what he described as a “wrongful and deliberate downgrade” of the case. He subsequently ordered their relief from their positions and tasked the Napolcom inspection, monitoring and investigation service to probe the two officers.
In a resolution issued on May 15, however, the Pasig prosecutor’s office stated that there was insufficient evidence to pursue the frustrated murder and malicious mischief charges against Lagua. According to the prosecutor, the malicious mischief charge could not be sustained because the police officer merely pushed the motorcycle of the complainant, Jhone Vincent Cayanes, after being chased and confronted by him.
