Shape up or ship out, QC cops told

MANILA, Philippines–A day after Senior Police Officer 4 Jose de la Peña was dismissed for alleged extortion, the chief of the Quezon City Police District warned erring cops to shape up or get kicked off the police force.

“They don’t deserve to be in the Philippine National Police for a minute longer,” said district director Chief Superintendent Mario de la Vega.

The official said they will immediately forward a copy of the dismissal order from the National Capital Region Police Office to De la Peña once they receive it.

De la Peña was relieved last week for allegedly trying to extort money from a male motorist, who turned out to be the 22-year-old son of NCRPO director Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina.

Espina ordered the dismissal of De la Peña and several other errant policemen on Wednesday for a 2009 extortion case involving the son of a retired Army general.

The QCPD has not yet received a formal complaint from Espina’s son.

“We will send a formal communication to the complainant through his father. We really need the statement to check if Police Officer 2 Resty del Rosario is really implicated,” De la Vega said.

The official explained that without a complaint implicating the younger policeman, an administrative case against Del Rosario cannot proceed.

Del Rosario was De la Peña’s mobile patrol partner on the night of Sept. 4 when they allegedly accosted Espina’s son in New Manila for allegedly engaging in “phone sex.” Del Rosario, however, claimed that it was his partner who talked to the younger Espina the whole time.

Based on QCPD records, De la Peña has faced seven administrative cases since he was of PO3 rank in 2006.

A separate check showed that the QCPD has handled 22 administrative cases involving grave misconduct and serious neglect of duty charges against their policemen.

Of this number, 10 were forwarded to the NCRPO for summary dismissal proceedings.

Charges like robbery-extortion, frustrated murder and car theft fall under grave misconduct.

Serious neglect of duty may include absence without leave for several days.

Dela Vega said such offenses merit dismissal and are outside the range of his authority as director, thus these are forwarded to the NCRPO for resolution.

“We have told our officials to talk to their men to be extra careful not to violate our regulations and laws, lest they face administrative or criminal charges,” the official added.