Police chief sacked after Napolcom’s surprise visit

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – Police Lieutenant John Paul Tabujara was relieved as officer-in-charge of E.B. Magalona Municipal Police Station in Negros Occidental, effective May 15, 2021.

This, after Atty. Joseph Celis, director of the National Police Commission (Napolcom)-6, expressed disappointment on the town’s police force during a surprise visit to the police station around 11 p.m. Friday last week.

In a Facebook post, Celis cited his observations on the police station such as the lack of a desk officer and sentinel, the smelly situation of the station, and dirty premises.

Celis said that it also took five minutes for a police officer to wake up, while the other three were still fast asleep when he called them out.

“They woke up when I was already waiting in the premises of the station wearing civilian clothes, then dressed up in their uniforms, while others are absent, abandoning their posts,” Celis said.

“Literally, they are not performing their duties,” he said, adding that there was no official duty detail order issued.

Celis also said that he did not expect that the police chief and his deputy police chief were absent from the station.

Aside from that, Celis also mentioned that the old unserviceable police vehicle blocked the other passageway to the station and the gates were left open.

Following this incident, Police Colonel Romy Palgue, director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo), ordered the relief of Tabujara who was transferred to the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (PHAU) at the Nocppo headquarters here.

Police Lieutenant Abegael Donasco, Nocppo deputy information officer, said that Police Captain Eric Doronilla, deputy of Provincial Operations Management Unit replaced Tabujara.

Donasco said that the four policemen, who were initially on duty at that time, were directed to make a written explanation about what happened, including their reasons.

Donasco said the provincial police force will intensify the surprise inspection and the strict observance of cleanliness in police stations.

“Kapag malinis, may dignidad at karespe-respeto ang mga kapulisan,” she added.

Donasco said that proper investigation will follow after the concerned policemen submit their written explanation. “We will look into it naman po,” she added.

Despite this, Donasco said that it was an isolated case and it does not reflect other police stations.

Meanwhile, Celis lauded the readiness of the personnel of police stations in the cities of Talisay and Silay during his surprise visit, citing that Police Major Jigger Gimeno and Police Lieutenant Colonel Robert Petate were at their respective posts.