Manila cop in ICU after ‘punishment’

MANILA, Philippines — A police officer was reported to be in critical condition yesterday after a Manila Police District official punished him for allegedly failing to make a proper salute at the MPD headquarters.

Senior Police Officer 3 Mario Asilo, 48, of the MPD’s homicide section, is confined at the Medical Center Manila’s intensive care unit (ICU) for heart failure.

The MPD is investigating the incident, according to Senior Superintendent Danilo Macerin, chief of the district’s directorial staff.

He said there will be no whitewash of the case and erring officials will be punished.

Macerin said they have already extended financial assistance for Asilo’s hospitalization. 

Witnesses said Chief Inspector Reynante Parlade, MPD Special Weapons and Tactics commander, ordered Asilo to perform squat thrusts, an exercise used to punish cadets, for failing to “recognize him and give him the proper salute” when Asilo passed Parlade at around 5:30 p.m. Monday.

“Parlade called him, started cursing him and took his gun. Then Parlade ordered him to render squat thrusts,” the witness said.

Asilo, who has a heart condition, told Parlade that he was sick and could not perform the punishment, but the latter forced him to obey, witnesses said.

Asilo collapsed after performing four squat thrusts. Witnesses said he had no pulse and hospital personnel used a defibrillator to revive him.

Parlade admitted he was not in uniform and not everyone at the MPD headquarters knew him – Asilo included.

“I am saddened by what happened but I did not know that he was sick. As policemen, we follow certain protocols and that includes giving a senior official the proper salute,” Parlade told The STAR.