FOR grave neglect of duty, seven police officers assigned in the region were ordered dismissed from service.
The dismissed officers faced administrative charges and waived their rights to appeal their case, according to Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Valeriano de Leon.
“They failed or maybe they don’t intend to appeal anymore their administrative case after repeated notices to do so. So, I signed their dismissal papers last week,” de Leon said.
The dismissed police officers are Master Sergeant Jerry Macabudbud of the Bohol Provincial Police Office; Corporal Raymonito Panoh Mesa of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO); Patrolmen Joseph Sala Tabotabo, Castor Garcia, Jobie Antipolo and Frances Dinglasa Maucesa of CCPO; and Patrolman Edmund Barry Tabar Pizarra of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO).
The officers were assigned at the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Section (RPHAS) of PRO 7 while under investigation for grave neglect of duty.
In a press release, de Leon said the dismissal was recommended by Colonel Julius Cesar Gornez, former Regional Personnel Records and Management Division chief and now acting provincial police director of Siquijor.
As a result of their dismissal, the policemen’s benefits will be forfeited.
When he became PRO 7 director in October, de Leon warned all police personnel and non-uniformed personnel not to get involved in illegal activities and criminal acts.
“I will not think twice to sign your dismissal order if you are found guilty or you continue your illegal activities such as drugs and other criminal acts. Policemen like you have no place in the organization,” de Leon said.
Police Brigadier General Ildebrande Usana, deputy regional director for administration of PRO 7, said the administrative complaints were lodged against the officers when Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas was PRO 7 chief.
He said the dismissal of the officers should serve as a lesson to all policemen that they would be dismissed from service if found to be involved in illegal activity or if they committed any irregularity.
“This is our clear message to all our police officers that the regional director is serious in seeing to it that justice must be served. For those who are committing infraction of our administrative disciplinary machinery, we will impose the appropriate sanctions,” Usana added.
Meanwhile, a policeman assigned at the Parian Police Station in Cebu City is also facing an administrative complaint after he was caught gambling in an illegal cockpit.
The policeman has not been relieved from his post pending orders from the PRO 7. (PR, AYB, LRC)