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CEBU CITY — Two police officers were relieved from their posts after they were caught sleeping inside a patrol car along General Maxilom Avenue here on Thursday.
The two officers, who have ranks of staff sergeant and corporal, will be temporarily assigned to the Cebu City Holding Admin Unit, according to Col. Ireneo Dalogdog, director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO).
Both are also facing a pre-charge investigation conducted by the City Investigation and Detective Management Unit (CIDMU) for a possible administrative case.
“We will give the two of them the chance to explain. The investigation is ongoing and the CIDMU is preparing the appropriate administrative case to be filed against them. We will not tolerate this kind of behavior,” Dalogdog said.
Major Nolan Tagsip, chief of the Abellana Police Station in Cebu City, said the two police officers were on-duty at the time they were seen sleeping.
As mobile patrol personnel, the two policemen were assigned to conduct roving duties at crime-prone areas in the city.
Tagsip said he was shocked to learn that at 6 a.m., a photo of the two policemen went viral on social media.
“We immediately relieved them pending the ongoing investigation. We will let them stay at the city headquarters and then we will file an administrative case against them per Napolcom 2016-002 memorandum for pre-charge investigation,” he said.
Dalogdog said sleeping while on duty is strictly prohibited by the Philippine National Police.
He said violators will be suspended for 30 to 60 days.
Dalogdog challenged all station commanders in the city to make sure their operatives are all awake while on duty otherwise he will also make them accountable for their actions.
“I already issued a memorandum directing all station commanders and other chief special units to strictly supervise their personnel under their respective jurisdiction,” he said.
“If we will still catch other policemen who are sleeping while on duty, we will include the chief supervisor and the immediate superior officer in the investigation and charges for failure to supervise and monitor their personnel,” Dalogdog added.