DILG employee may face dismissal for attacking traffic enforcer

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of the Interior and Local Government employee accused of physically and verbally attacking a traffic enforcer could face dismissal if found guilty of the charges filed against him.

DILG said its Legal Service issued Thursday a show cause order, asking Arvin Vinluan, a Local Government Operations Officer at the DILG Region IV-A (Calabarzon), to explain within 48 hours allegations why he attacked Metropolitan Manila Development Authority traffic constable Jonard Jeramil when the latter accosted him for jaywalking last Monday.

The order, signed by DILG Legal Service Director Jesus B. Doque IV, read: “(This is) in relation to the incident that took place last Monday, November 5, 2012 and was captured on camera, aired on national television and published over the web, wherein you appeared to have attacked the MMDA Traffic Constable who accosted you for Jaywalking and for allegedly using your employment in the Department to avoid being penalized for said offense.”

“Pursuant to Rule 4, Section 16 of the Revised Rules of Administrative Cases in the Civil Service, you are hereby directed to show cause and/or explain in writing within Forty-Eight (48) hours why no administrative case should be filed against you for grave misconduct, which is punishable by dismissal from office,” the show cause order added.

DILG said the charge of grave misconduct, depending on the gravity, may also result in the forfeiture of all benefits from government service, including pension.

“Those found guilty may also be banned from entering any position in government,” DILG said.

Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II earlier ordered the filing of administrative charges against Vinluan, saying cases of employees attacking persons in authority will not be tolerated at the DILG.

Vinluan allegedly punched Jeramil after he was apprehended for jaywalking on España Boulevard in Manila last Monday.