Top cop vows stern admin case vs five cops in liquor ban breach

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

The full force of the law will be applied to police officers who violate the PNP rules and regulations.

This, Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas police chief, vowed as he assured that internal cleansing will still be a priority, on top of other police operations.

That’s why, “despite our accomplishments as the head of the region’s police force, it saddens me to note that our relentless efforts on the internal cleansing program of the PNP have still yielded police personnel violating rules and regulations,” Pamuspusan said.

Pamuspusan was referring to five police personnel who were caught allegedly violating the liquor ban amid the community quarantine.

Based on the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Memorandum Circular 2016-002, Police Staff Sergeant Roy Panaguiton, Police Staff Sergeant Joe Marc Ebon, and Police Corporal Arnie Luminario were charged for grave misconduct.

Police Staff Sergeants Paul Pingoy and Jose Digcabo-on Jr. were charged for less grave misconduct, less grave neglect of duty, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer. The administrative cases against Pingoy and Digcabo-on are being handled by the PRO-6.

“We can assure the public that they will face the highest administrative that we could file against them,” Pamuspusan said.

Despite the debacle, the region’s top cop believed that PRO-6’s internal cleansing efforts are not futile.

“If we really look into the number of policemen violating the rules and regulations of the PNP internally, this does not even account to 1 percent,” he said.

But still, Pamuspusan said one personnel is too many.

“As much as possible, we really have to intensify our programs kasi isang pulis lang, it tends to tarnish the image of the organization. I hope this would not be taken against the whole PRO-6. Unfair sa nagtatrabaho,” he said.

Pamuspusan said he was able to talk to the five policemen.

“Sinabihan ko na mahiya naman kayo. While the rest of us are helping to thwart the threat of COVID-19, here you are taking advantage of the situation,” he said.

For such a small amount, the five police officers destroyed their career and the organization.

“Nakakihiya! They don’t deserve pity from the organization. In fact, they should be shamed kasi lahat nagsasakripisyo and here are five personnel thinking about only of themselves,” he said.

Pamuspusan said he doesn’t want this kind of personnel to be part of the organization.

“But we couldn’t control how their mind works. After all, when they entered the organization, they are already of age,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pamuspusan also announced that they have resolved 66 cases involving 133 personnel from March 17 to June 11, 2020, the time when the region was placed on community quarantine.

Seven officers were dismissed from the service, 15 were suspended, 2 were meted with forfeiture of salary, 4 were reprimanded while 105 were exonerated.