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Thursday, September 29, 2005
Police admit personnel lack in Montil's case
THE lack of personnel in the legal department of the Philippine National Police (PNP) 10 has been the major cause of delays in the suspension and dismissal orders against erring police officers, said Superintendent Ernesto Bongado Jr.
Bongado, one of only two lawyers assigned at the PNP 10 legal department, made the statement in relation to the status of the dismissal and suspension orders against controversial police inspector Celso Montil.
Montil has a string of suspension orders on his paper, the latest of which was issued by the Regional Internal Affairs Service (Rias) on April 14.
The suspension order, however, has been gathering dust at the Regional Police Office's legal department after PNP-10 Regional Director Dante Tejada deferred the Rias decision pending the legal department's opinion.
Covering five provinces, eight cities and 85 municipalities throughout Region 10, Superintendent Bongado admitted that "delays are unavoidable" in resolving cases brought to their department.
"We provide legal opinion for the regional police director and we also appear as counsels in litigations involving police matters throughout the region. So, as you can see, we can act on these cases once at a time considering there are only two of us," Bongado told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
Meanwhile, Bongado said Montil's last year's dismissal order was returned to the Rias after the legal department observed "some errors in the decision."
Unjustifiable reasons
The case, he said, is pending in the Rias.
The Rias decision was based on various criminal cases and administrative charges lodged against Montil when the latter was still assigned as precinct commander of Cogon police last year.
The Rias found Montil guilty of the charges of serious irregularity in the performance of duty and dishonesty.
Nine days before Montil received his dismissal order, then Rias Acting Regional Director Casan Alonto already suspended the latter for 150 days for neglect of duty and incompetence.
The suspension was later reduced by the Regional Appelate Board (RAB) of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) to 60 days.
Alonto in his decision enumerated the criminal cases and administrative complaints lodged against Montil ranging from rape, illegal release of arrested persons, forgery, homicide and insubordination.
"...Releases of detainees under his administration as Cogon Police Precinct Commander are for monetary considerations even maybe to the extent of forging signatures of fiscals and judges as respondent Montil is known for his golden hands," the decision reads, citing two administrative cases in which Montil allegedly caused the release of several detainees for unjustifiable reasons.
Misconduct
Meanwhile, Montil's direct superior, Police City Director Honorio Cervantes, confirmed Montil's active status at Cocpo, as evidenced by his five-month stint at Divisoria Precinct (PP1) as precinct commander.
He left the Divisoria police precinct on May 25 this year after Rias Director George Mahidlaon suspended him yet another for 60 days for grave misconduct.
The case involved a defamation charge by another policeman in which Montil was found guilty. Montil appealed the decision but was denied.
Montil's last assignment before he took a job leave two weeks ago was as security in-charge of the Cogon market.
Councilor Reynaldo Advincula who chairs the City Council market committee however said Montil reported only for one day and then disappeared.
Montil who is on leave, was not immediately available for comment. (Danilo V. Adorador III)
(September 29, 2005 issue)
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