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Police: Barbers incident, only a traffic row


Not kidnapping but only a traffic row. This, according to the police, was the cause of a recent incident involving Philippine Tourism Authority general manager Robert Dean Barbers and his family. Philippine National Police Region 4 Chief Supt. Nicasio Radovan said the February 11 gun-poking incident was an offshoot of a traffic altercation between Barbers and a group of police and military men from Bauan, Batangas. “We’re very sorry for that unfortunate incident. But we disagree that what happened was a kidnap attempt. Nevertheless, we will not condone any abusive behavior of our personnel," said Radovan in an interview with reporters. Barbers, with his wife and three children, were on board a Ford Explorer (XCF-938) when Police Officer 1 June Virtucio and companions demanded the PTA chief to come out of his car. Barbers and his family were on their way to Anilao in Mabini, Batangas, Sunday morning, when the incident happened. Even so, Radovan assured the Barbers family and the public that he will not tolerate the abuses and gun-poking committed by POI June Virtucio and at least three other police and military men. He said the police filed charges of illegal possession of firearms against Virtucio and Geronimo Mendoza. The charges were based on the existing Commission on Elections gun ban. The two are now out on bail. Radovan said Virtucio and his companions called up the Bauan PNP headquarters and sought an alarm on Barbers’ vehicle. He said Virtucio’s move countered Barbers’ claim of kidnapping. “If one is a police scalawag and intends to kidnap his subject..., he will not be seeking a flash alarm from his headquarters. Definitely not." Radovan said. Barbers, son of the late Sen. Robert Barbers, has sought Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales’ help for the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct an impartial probe on the incident. Barbers insisted no traffic altercation transpired in the San Pascual-Bauan national highway because there was no vehicular traffic when the gun-toting incident happened. On allegations that Barbers punched in the head, Virtucio's brother Niño, during the traffic row, the PTA chief said the suspects could have shot him with their caliber 45 and M-16 rifles had he did it. -GMANews.TV

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