Sen. Ping Lacson: Bureau of Immigration Should Look Into Case of Foreigner in Dasmariñas Village

The Bureau of Immigration should look into the case of the foreign national involved in an altercation with police officials inside a gated subdivision in Makati City, according to a senator. 

“If a deportation proceeding is in order, they should act swiftly and decisively,” Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said in a statement.

On Sunday (April 26), police officials entered Dasmariñas Village upon the invitation of barangay officials in Makati City to check whether residents were following enhanced community quarantine procedures.

The officials ended up tousling with a resident, identified as Spanish national Javier Salvador Parra, who allegedly became belligerent after the officials cited his helper who was watering the plants outside without a face mask.

Officers were then reportedly forced to restrain Parra after he started yelling at the officers, challenging their authority. The incident was captured on video that made the rounds on social media.

“During these trying times, the Philippine National Police has the unenviable task of implementing an Enhanced Community Quarantine, without fear or favor,” Lacosn said. “For the most part, our policemen deserve kudos for doing their jobs."

Lacson said the police officers did not deserve the “arrogant and demaning behavior” they experienced from Parra.

“As if this were not enough, the police officers were subjected to unfair criticisms from netizens who saw the “edited” version of the video,” Lacson said. “On the other hand, being an ‘investor with 80 employees’ as he claimed does not give the foreigner the right to confront and incessantly berate a police officer who is merely performing a risky duty in the manner that he did.

“Arrogance has no place in our country—especially so in a situation where either all of us win, or all of us lose to the COVID-19 threat,” Lacson added.

Makati Police have said that they intend to file charges against Parra, including disobedience, unjust vexation, resisting arrest, assault to person in authority, and violation of the Bayanihan Law for leaving his home without a face mask.