ICPO probes ‘freeloading cops’

By Jennifer P. Rendon

“Philippine National Police members shall adhere to high standards of morality and decency and shall set good examples for others to follow. In no instance during their terms of office, among other things, shall they be involved as owners, operators, managers or investors in any house of ill-repute or illegal gambling den or other places devoted to vices, nor they shall patronize such places unless on official duty, and tolerate operations of such establishments in their respective areas of responsibilities.”

This is based on the PNP Ethical Doctrine.

Anchored on that premise, the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) on Wednesday said it is investigating reports about of a group of men who identified themselves as police officers when they entered a discotheque in Mandurriao district.

The information only came out as an offshoot of a complaint made by two gay men that they were fondled by two men who claimed to be police officers. That is still subject of an investigation.

But another issue has cropped up after the management of MO2 Ice, a discotheque and bar at Smallville Complex, claimed that there was indeed a group who entered their establishment evening of Dec 27.

Dennis Delim, the bar’s officer-in-charge, told Aksyon Radyo Iloilo said that the team leader of the said police unit asked if they could go in without paying the entrance fee.

Delim said he agreed if they would leave their firearm.

The group of around 20 persons allegedly deposited their firearms. It was even reported that they came from the ICPO’s Christmas Party.

It was confirmed that ICPO indeed had a thanksgiving party on the same day.

The alleged sexual harassment on two gay men happened early morning of Tuesday.

Major Shella Mae Sangrines, ICPO spokesperson, said the alleged sexual harassment is being investigated by the Mandurriao Police Station.

On the ICPO level, she said they’re trying to ascertain several things.

“First, we would ascertain if those men were really policemen. If they are, we would verify their identities and their current assignment,” Sangrines said.

If they are policemen, she said they would also investigate the purpose of their visit.

“Was it official or for personal reason,” she said.

Although Sangrines pointed out that if it was for personal purposes, they wouldn’t have identified themselves as policemen.

“Also, we don’t tolerate our policemen going in places like that. Much more that they would be allowed to enter for free,” she said.

Sangrines said the information they have, so far, are still raw and subject to further investigation and verification.

“But rest assured that we would look into it,” she said.

THE CASE OF SIX LADY COPS

More than a year ago, six neophyte policewomen found themselves in hot water after they were caught drinking in public.

They were subsequently detained for violating a PNP administrative order.

A day before the six lady cops were caught on September 2020, the Directorate for Operations head, Major General Alfred Corpus, reiterated to all regional directors the strict prohibition of drinking liquor in public places of all PNP personnel based on the statement of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.