PNP chief sacks 20 police officers, men

MANILA, Philippines – National Police chief Director Gen Nicanor Bartolome on Monday, April 2, sacked from their posts 20 police officers and men, including a task force head and a fraud investigator, for their alleged involvement in irregularities.

Bartolome ordered them reassigned at the Philippine National Police Holding and Administrative Unit, which means they’re all on “floating” status pending their investigation.

Among those relieved from their posts were Senior Supt Rhodel O Sermonia, chief of Task Force Maverick of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), who was the subject of a complaint filed by party list Rep Arnel Tyfor. The latter accused Sermonia of obstruction of justice and unjust vexation, among others, according to a PNP statement.

Also relieved was Supt Honorio R Agnila, officer-in-charge of the CIDG’s Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Division, who was linked to the abduction and extortion of Singaporean and Taiwanese businessmen, the statement added.

The list of relieved officers and men also include the following: Chief Insp Renato Ocampo; Chief Insp Ruben Lacuesta, former Chief of the Southern Metro Manila Criminal Investigation and Detection Team;  Chief Insp Bienvenido Reydado; SPO2 Rene De Leon; SPO2 Jose Yong; SPO1 Rizaldy Dela Cruz; SPO1 Alejandro Abrogar Jr.; SPO1 Veronica Villareal; PO3 Noel Bunal; PO3 Joaquin Rafael Florendo; PO3 William Geneblazo; PO2 Percival Villaluz; and PO1 Rolando Blones

The statement said Lacuesta and his men are being investigated for the escape of a Korean prisoner.

Also relieved were 5 other officers from CIDG in Eastern Visayas for their alleged involvement in “illegal activities” in Ormoc City. They are Chief Insp Bernardo Lao, Deputy Chief of CIDG Region 8; and SPO1 Alejo Lucero, PO2 Jun Oliva, PO1 Tata Villamor, and PO1 Bobot Castelo.
 
“My instructions … is to throw the book at these deviant police officers,” the PNP statement quoted Bartolome as saying. “But first, they must be removed from the environment where they committed the alleged infraction in order for them not to unduly influence the investigation.”

He added: “This time, we will make sure that due process will work to the advantage of the police service and will not be used as a convenient excuse for these deviants to circumvent the law and PNP policy on internal discipline.” – Rappler.com