Eight police officers relieved for misconduct

CEBU, Philippines - As the internal cleansing in police ranks continues, another eight police officers in Cebu City are now being investigated and relieved from their posts for allegedly committing various infractions in the performance of their duties.

Senior Superin-tendent Joel Doria, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) director, said the line-up of police officers relieved from duty include non-uniformed personnel and those holding senior police officer positions.

Doria said the police officers are being investigated for various irregularities in the performance of their duties like committing extortion, serious neglect, grave misconduct, and even being absent without leave.

“Kunti pa lang ng allegation ni-relieve ko na para di na lumala,” he told reporters yesterday.

He, however, refused to name the eight pending investigation.

The said policemen are currently assigned at the Police Holding and Accounting Unit of the Police Regional Office-7.

No police have been placed under investigation for alleged involvement in any illegal drug activity yet, Doria added.

The eight policemen may no longer be granted promotion or might be facing dismissal from service if found liable.

Doria disclosed that there were a total of 27 police officers, including the 19 last year, being investigated since he assumed office July last year.

He added that more will be subjected to investigation.

Earlier, nine police officers in Cebu were also slapped with criminal and administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Office over undisclosed wealth.

The respondent police officers are already assigned outside Central Visayas.

The complaint stemmed from the findings of the Regional Internal Affairs Service (RIAS) 7 office’s investigation that the said police officers are living with a lavish lifestyle and own several cars which were not declared in their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

The RIAS-7 further reported that more policemen are also facing complaints for violations of the police operational procedures as well as the rules of engagement during the conduct of anti-illegal drug operations.

In a separate interview, Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño, Police Regional Office-7 director, said he already instructed the RIAS to review the cases of the police who were reinstated despite being dismissed from service. (FREEMAN)