Ex-police chief suspended over affair

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has suspended for six months the former chief of the Carcar City Police Station and a member of his staff for allegedly engaging in an illicit affair.

In his six-page resolution, Joseph Licudan, graft investigation and prosecution officer, found Supt. Teodulfo Manatad III and Jenica Alixes liable of disgraceful and immoral conduct. 

"The respondents' (policemen) acts come within the purview of disgraceful and immoral conduct as both respondents' actuations are contrary to prevailing standards of conduct of good and respectable members of the community," he said.

The complaints were filed by the policewoman's husband, Ronald, who accused the respondents of adultery and disgraceful and immoral conduct before the anti-graft office. 

The husband alleged that the respondents called each other "ga," short for local term of endearment "langga."

He added that his wife would come home late and always made up excuses that she had "unfinished work" at the station.

On April 28, 2015, the husband caught his wife kissing Manatad inside the car when the police officer drove the woman to their house.

In his counter-affidavit, Manatad denied having an affair with his subordinate.

He said he would usually address someone younger than him as "ga" regardless of gender.

He said he merely offered to accompany Jenica to their house since she went home late on April 28, 2015.

For her part, Jenica said she worked overtime to finish some paper works on April 28, 2015.

She said Manatad drove her home since the mobile car was not around since she finished her work at around 10 p.m. (FREEMAN)