Molo police chief, two cops face administrative charges

ILOILO CITY — The National Police Commission 6 has found probable cause to file administrative charges against three personnel of Iloilo City Police Station 4 in Molo district.

Atty. Michelle Benitez-Yotoko, NAPOLCOM-6 spokesperson, said ICPS 4 chief Police Capt. Ryan Christ Inot and two of his personnel have been informed of the administrative charges against them.

Inot is facing charges of grave misconduct and grave neglect of duty.

One ICPS 4 police officer was charged with grave irregularity in the performance of duty, while another faces a charge of grave neglect of duty.

NAPOLCOM-6 earlier initiated a pre-charge investigation involving 15 police personnel following the controversial July 1 operation at ICPS 4 by the Philippine National Police Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group.

The pre-charge investigation covered Inot, 13 of his personnel and one member of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 6.

NAPOLCOM-6 found no probable cause to file administrative charges against the 12 other police personnel.

The commission also established through gathered closed-circuit television footage that a wanted former police officer had been near the ICPS 4 facility.

However, ICPS 4 personnel did not arrest him.

Yotoko said the investigation did not establish whether the wanted former police officer had been used in ICPS 4’s anti-illegal drug operations.

She said investigators also found that a person under police custody was outside the detention cell when IMEG personnel, supported by the PNP Special Action Force, conducted the operation.

Inot, meanwhile, remains chief of ICPS 4.

Yotoko said the PNP leadership has the authority to decide whether Inot should remain in his post while the administrative case is pending.

NAPOLCOM will proceed with summary dismissal proceedings against the three police personnel.

The finding of probable cause allows the administrative cases to proceed but does not constitute a final determination of liability.

The July 1 incident began when heavily armed IMEG personnel, supported by SAF troopers, entered ICPS 4 following information that a wanted former police officer was allegedly at the station.

The target, identified as alias “Jerry,” was not found inside the police station when IMEG personnel arrived.

He instead surrendered to Police Regional Office 6 Director Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño shortly after midnight on July 5.

At the time of the IMEG operation, ICPS 4 personnel were preparing for a planned anti-illegal drug operation.

IMEG personnel allegedly ordered their fellow police officers to lie on the floor, temporarily disarmed them and confiscated their mobile phones.

The operation also resulted in tense encounters involving civilians inside the police station.

A barangay official and a local media reporter who were at the station as witnesses for the planned buy-bust operation were allegedly held at gunpoint.

A search of the station failed to locate the fugitive.

The incident triggered separate investigations into possible operational lapses, including questions over coordination, police procedures and the treatment of civilians and officers during the operation.