Sunday, May 18, 2008 Cop sacked; faces admin, criminal raps By Ruby P. Silubrico
A POLICE officer of Pototan Police Station who threatened a businessman last week inside the cockpit was relieved from his post and is now facing several charges.
Iloilo Police Provincial Director Ricardo De la Paz confirmed that PO2 Rollen Labios was relieved last Monday from his post. He is now undergoing an investigation at Iloilo Police Provincial Office (Ippo).
De la Paz said Labios will be facing administrative sanctions for grave misconduct and criminal charges for grave threat as a police officer.
This after he reportedly threatened a businessman identified as Ricky Pareño when they met inside the Pototan cockpit on May 7, 2008 at around 11 p.m.
Pareño claimed that Labios, who was allegedly drunk, approached and asked him if he won in the cockfight. He told Labios that he lost.
Without any provocation, Labios reportedly told Pareño when he would gun him down while holding his service firearm.
A commotion ensued but Pareño's friend, a certain Margarito Parcon, was able to pacify both of them. Labios then left the place.
De la Paz said that Pareño and some witnesses have already submitted their affidavits for formal complaints, both criminal and administrative charges. The authorities, on the other hand, are still conducting an investigation regarding Labios' presence in the cockpit.
Labios denied the allegations of Pareño but admitted that he was drunk when he entered the cockpit.
He justified that he and his friend went to the cockpit because they were conducting surveillance on a wanted person named Noel Ticson.
To recall, Police Regional Director Isgani Cuevas has a standing order that policemen are not allowed to go in the cockpit or do any moonlighting.
