2 cops relieved for escorting Korean

MANILA, Philippines — Two police officers were relieved from their posts yesterday for escorting a Korean in Pasay City last week.

Police Officers 2 Ralp Tumanguil and Jay Templonuevo are facing charges of grave misconduct for violating the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s Memorandum Circular banning policemen from escorting private individuals, according to Director Guillermo Eleazar, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

If found guilty, Eleazar said Tumanguil and Templonuevo would be suspended for 59 days without pay for grave misconduct and malicious mischief.

The policemen were off-duty when they escorted a Korean on Oct. 19 without clearance from PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde.

“We will not tolerate any wrongdoing by our men,” Eleazar said.

Eleazar and Highway Patrol Group head Chief Superintendent Roberto Fajardo berated Tumanguil and Templonuevo when they reported at the NCRPO headquarters at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig yesterday.

Tumanguil is a member of the Police Community Precinct 7 in Parañaque City. Templonuevo is assigned with the NCRPO.

They were escorting the Korean in a car along Andrews Boulevard in Pasay when they figured in a near collision with a taxi owned by Joseph Barreno.

Tumanguil was caught on video destroying the left side mirror of the taxicab.

The video footage was uploaded by Barreno on his social media account, which went viral.

Eleazar said he relieved Tumanguil and Templonuevo from their posts to prevent them from harrassing Berrano and the taxi driver, who are bent on filing charges against them.

The policemen were reassigned to the NCRPO Regional Police Holding and Administrative Unit.