Police official seeks reconsideration of suspension

Saturday, February 11, 2012

FORMER Station 10 commander, Police Senior Inspector Terence Paul Sta. Ana, will file his motion for reconsideration before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas after he was suspended for six months.

Sta. Ana said Friday he will file the motion for reconsideration within this month before the Office of the Ombudsman to lift his suspension order, adding that he received last January 25 yet the order suspending him effective February 1 until July 31.

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Sta. Ana was relieved on Friday as Station 10 commander after the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas issued a suspension order against him signed by deputy ombudsman Orlando Casimiro which was implemented and signed by Police Regional Office-6 director Chief Superintendent Cipriano Querol, Jr.

Sta. Ana, together with Police Officer 1 (PO1) Jomar Efundo, PO1 Richard Ivan Lopez, PO2 Arnold Albansa and PO3 Anthony Alvarez who were assigned in Iloilo City Police Office, were suspended after a complaint for grave misconduct and abuse of authority were filed in 2010 against them before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Sta. Ana said the charges were filed by PO1 Joebert Castillo, assigned in Estancia Police Station in Iloilo.

He explained that on August 5, 2010 when he was assigned as deputy officer of the City Mobile Group in Iloilo City, they received a complaint that Castillo was creating alarm and scandal at Zone 8, Barangay Veteran, Iloilo.

They responded and arrested Castillo. He said they filed charges for direct assault, resisting arrest and illegal possession of firearms against Castillo. While the case was ongoing, Castillo tried to convince them to settle the case. Without their knowledge, Castillo also filed a case against them before the Office of the Ombudsman, Sta. Ana added.

Sta. Ana and the four policemen were suspended for six months without pay.

Sta. Ana was replaced by Police Senior Inspector Ruel Culanag, the deputy chief of Station 6, while Culanag was also replaced by Police Inspector Leo Canag of the BCPO Public Safety Company.