Iloilo town’s entire police force sacked

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — All personnel of the police force in Anilao town in Iloilo were relieved from their posts yesterday a day after they were caught sleeping while on duty.

Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, Western Visayas police director, said Senior Inspector Menrico Candaliza, town police chief, and 26 of his men were covered by the relief order.

“They are temporarily assigned with the personnel holding administrative unit of the Iloilo police while they face investigation,” Bulalacao said.

Chief Inspector Ciriaco Esquiliarga was named new police chief of Anilao.

Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba, Iloilo police chief, said officials of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) in Western Visayas caught the police officers during an inspection at around 4:30 a.m. on Thursday.

“The lights are off. There are no sentinel and guard. They are asleep. The police station has no signage,” Joseph Celis, Napolcom regional director, wrote in a post on Facebook.

Tayaba said it was not the first time that Anilao policemen were caught sleeping on the job.

He said he warned police officers against being caught off guard  when he visited the station recently.

“Apparently,  they did not listen,” Tayaba said.  – Romina Cabrera