Sunday, October 07, 2007 PRO 7 official faces dishonesty, misconduct raps
A POLICE colonel may face a summary hearing after the National Police Commission (Napolcom) 7 found cause to charge him with grave misconduct and dishonesty.
The case against Senior Supt. Arturo Evangelista, chief of the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division (RIDMD), stemmed from the complaint filed by Senior Supt. Edgardo Ingking, director of the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO).
Ingking complained that Evangelista’s report submitted to former Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 director Silverio Alarcio Jr. “damaged the good image of the Bohol Provincial Police Office and demoralized its members.”
Ingking claimed that Evangelista pointed out six lapses concerning the operation leading to the arrest of the Casimero Garcia Robbery Group, based on newspaper reports.
‘Lied’
He also allegedly lied when he claimed he created the Bohol Tourist Police, when it was launched in 2001 during the term of then BPPO director Sancho Bernales. Before Ingking was appointed BPPO director, it was Evangelista who held the post.
When sought for comment, Evangelista told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday that Ingking did not fully understand why he made that report.
Evangelista explained that the points raised on the incident came from Alarcio, who instructed members of the command group to put these in writing and come up with recommendations.
He added that he was not the only member of the command group given the instruction but he was the only one who ended up signing the report.
Evangelista’s report, according to a statement sent by the Napolcom 7, pointed out the lack of police visibility in Tagbilaran City and the lack of a unit to respond to such robberies; that no checkpoints were held after the broad daylight heist; that they were not aggressive in their follow-up because they relied on a citizen to inform them of the gang’s whereabouts; that they did not observe police procedures in allowing security guards to make the arrest; and that they were delayed in submitting a sketchy report to the Regional Operations and Plans Division.
Because of the memorandum sent to Alarcio, a Napolcom 7 lawyer ruled in a pre-charge evaluation report that “this instant complaint is complete in form and substance; it is respectfully recommended that the respondent be charged with grave misconduct and dishonesty.”
‘Taking advantage’
The report further stated that an aggravating circumstance was that Evangelista took advantage of his official position.
“The said report has greatly eroded and demolished the BPPO officers’ self-esteem and self-confidence they garnered from the triumphant capture of Garcia’s group. In effect, alleged actuations of the respondent compromised the pride and integrity of the police group,” the pre-charge report read.
It further stated that the act “is tantamount to maliciously intriguing against the honor and discrediting the dignity of his co-police officers. In view of his influential position and the massive demoralizing effect it has on the BPPO hierarchy, the said acts qualify the offense as grave misconduct.”
Because the RIDMD requires the appointment of the President, presidential clearance is needed to proceed with the summary hearing of the case.
Napolcom 7 Director Bernardo Calibo approved the recommendation last Friday.
Ingking sought to place Evangelista under preventive suspension, but this was denied because this “should be raised appropriately in the summary hearing of this case, should this recommendation merit approval.”
As to the report in the Bohol Standard last Sept. 16 stating Evangelista was the creator of the Bohol Tourist Police when the unit was launched in 2001, Evangelista denied making such a statement.
He clarified that he said it was the Tourist Police Station that was created during his stint as BPPO director and not the concept of the Tourist Police.
Evangelista said that Ingking should have raised his concerns to the grievance committee of the PRO 7 and not go straight to the Napolcom.
He said that the points raised were sent to Ingking so he could explain if these reports were not true.
Ingking, when called by Sun.Star Cebu, declined to comment, saying the case was already with the Napolcom 7.
Evangelista, for his part, is leaving it to PRO 7 Director Ronald Roderos, who has summoned the two officials to a meeting on Monday.
“I don’t want this blown out of proportion. It’s embarrassing that we seem to be behaving like children,” Evangelista said. (MEA)
