A police officer and a retired cop exchanged blows right in front of journalists on Monday afternoon inside the compound of the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters along United Nations Avenue. Retired Inspector Rico Miranda and Superintendent Joveth Asayo, currently detailed with the office of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza, were seen punching each other at around 1 p.m. on Monday, in front of the MPD press corps office. Miranda's and Asayo's six companions joined the action, which lasted for some 15 minutes before MPD policemen pacified the warring factions. Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay immediately ordered an investigation into the melee and tapped the General Assignments Section (GAS) to look into the incident. Magtibay revealed that based on initial reports, Asayo had just alighted from a van parked in front of the press office when Miranda approached him and hit him in the face, which resulted in a brawl. The MPD director pointed out that Asayo's and Miranda's companions then joined the melee. Policemen at the headquarters immediately acted to pacify the groups. “What I only know is they have an old grudge against each other but it is still not clear what caused the brawl,” Magtibay stressed, adding that neither of the former Manila policemen fall within the jurisdiction of the MPD. The Inquirer learned that both parties were eyeing to press charges against each other for the incident although neither has formally lodged a complaint before the MPD
