‘NUTCASE’ IN UNIFORM? Iloilo cop in hot water for ‘attacking, harassing superior’

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

ON WEDNESDAY, the new head of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 repeatedly vowed that he would go hard against misfit police as part of their internal cleansing efforts.

Police Brigadier General Pamuspusan, Western Visayas police chief, said he would continue the strong and determined implementation of the internal cleansing program of the PNP.

He said misfits will be investigated and charged with administrative and criminal cases.

It wasn’t long before these “misfits in the service” assumed a face in the person of Patrolman Joerick Ace Ilisan of Pototan Police Station in Iloilo.

Ilisan hogged the limelight on July 18, 2019 when members of the PRO-6 headquarters led by Police Major Nazer Canja, the PRO-6 camp duty officer, inspected the Pototan Police Station.

Canja travelled from the PRO-6 headquarters at Camp Delgado in Iloilo City and dropped by some police stations he passed by.

His team reached Pototan at around 1:15 a.m. of July 18, 2019. He then caught Ilisan and Police Corporal Esil Peñarubia drinking liquor inside the police station.

The two were only wearing their white undershirts instead of the standard blue PNP uniform.

At that time, Police Major Ronnie Brillo, the Pototan police chief, visited the wake of the late Staff Sergeant Jessie Pamado at Barangay Lumbo, Pototan.

Canja allegedly ordered Ilisan and Peñarubia to wear their complete police uniform and to unload their firearms.

Ilisan, who was believed to be heavily drunk, wore his upper shirt inside-out.

Canja then went back to the police camp and called up Brillo about what happened.

After Brillo learned of his cops’ actions, he confronted Ilisan.

But instead of being remorseful, Ilisan allegedly held on to his service firearm – a caliber 9.mm Taurus pistol.

The PRO-6 did not go into details of the incident but Ilisan allegedly attacked, harassed, and threatened Brillo.

He even went outside the station and fired his gun.

Members of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT-IPPO) team were called in to arrest Ilisan.

He was then placed under the police custodial facility.

A criminal case for grave threats and administrative charges are being readied against him.

Hours after the incident happened, Ilisan and Penarubia were summoned to Pamuspusan’s office.

Also present were Brillo and Police Colonel Marlon Tayaba, Iloilo police director.

Ilisan’s demeanor during the meeting was unclear but he allegedly asked for toilet breaks, according to PRO-6 sources.

At one instance, Tayaba reportedly told him, “Dito mo ipakita ang tapang mo. Kanina ang tapang-tapang mo (Show your spunk here. A while ago you were very daring).”

Ilisan had been in the police service for eight years but he did not seek promotion to a higher rank.

He might be placed under neuro-psychiatric test to gauge his mental and psychological fitness to work.

 

PRO-6 STATEMENT

Following what happened, the PRO-6 issued a statement condemning the incident. It stressed that such actuations of police officers are not tolerated

Pamuspusan also ordered Ilisan and Penarubia’s immediate relief, the swift conduct of the investigation, and immediate filing of the administrative and criminal cases.

He also urged Internal Affairs Service 6 to take over the conduct of investigation on the administrative case.

Pamuspusan also wanted the team leader and the squad mates of the subject personnel to also “face charges for tolerating and not properly supervising their squad mates/comrade.”

The PRO-6 also reiterated Pamuspusan’s commitment of having a strong and determined implementation of the internal cleansing program of the PNP.

Its implementation will have Ilisan and Penarubia as examples.

While administrative cases take time because of the strict procedures it has to comply with, Pamuspusan assured that he will personally monitor the progress of the cases until they are dismissed from the service.