Station chiefs who failed to release election pay face dismissal

MANILA, Philippines - Station commanders and chief of police (COP) in Metro Manila found guilty of pocketing the P1,000 election duty allowance by their men would be dismissed from the police service, National Capital Regional Police Office chief Director Roberto Rosales warned yesterday.

Rosales said the station commanders and COP would be charged correspondingly with embezzlement of public funds in the proper courts. “Once we established their guilt I will not hesitate to recommend their dismissal from the police service,” said Rosales, referring to the station commanders and COP.

The NCRPO chief ordered an investigation into reports that several station commanders and chiefs of police in Metro Manila failed to release the P1,000 election duty allowance given to policemen for the last May 10 election.

Superintendent Matthew Baccay, head of the NCRPO’s Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division has summoned the station commanders from the Manila Police District (MPD) and the Regional Public Safety Management Battalion where policemen complained that they did not receive their P1,000 election allowance.

Baccay said the commanders of Stations 4, 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the MPD have released the P1,000 election allowance of their men. However, the commanders of Stations 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 of the MPD and the RPSMB claimed they gave only a small portion in cash and the rest were converted into food.

The first tranche of the election duty allowance was released by Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa last March while the remaining balance was distributed by Rosales with strict instructions that the money be given immediately to policemen in Metro Manila.

Rosales said that the investigation is not confined only in the MPD but also in the other police districts. He urged policemen to submit affidavit of complaints before the NCRPO against their station commander or COP “so necessary actions be undertaken by my leadership.”

The NCRPO chief is not giving Baccay any deadline for him to conclude his investigation and submit his recommendation.