Espina fires 15 erring Manila cops

NCRPO Chief Leonardo Espina. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Fifteen Manila police officers, many of whom rookie cops, were ordered dismissed for allegedly committing various offenses as the National Capital Region Police Office intensifies efforts to clean up its ranks.

NCRPO Director Leonardo Espina said the officers were weeded out from the police service after being found guilty of grave misconduct.

The 15 dismissed cops were identified as follows:

– PO2 Michael Soriano and PO1 Aldrin Ignacio of Quezon City police for robbery/extortion and arbitrary detention;

– PO1 William Cristobal of Manila police for frustrated murder;

– PO1 Orlando Medico of Quezon City police for illegal drugs;

– PO3 Resty Cunanan of Southern Police District for threats, malicious mischief, trespass to dwelling, and alarm and scandal;

– PO2 Eliseo Santos and PO1 Jeremias Englis Jr. of Quezon City police (QCPD) for failure to prosecute drug case;

– PO2 Ronilo Marquez of Manila police for his non-appearance in court;

– SPO2 Josefino Agustin for illegal solicitation/collection of payment for his police service;

– PO1 Nomer Getiada of Quezon City police for grave threat;

– PO1 Roemer Mondido for alarm and scandal;

– SPO2 Abdurahmin Madueno (SPD),  PO2 Grant Fausto L Savedia (MPD), and PO1 Agustin Panelo (QCPD) for being on AWOL;

– NUP (non-uniformed personnel) Bernardo Sasi for physical injury.

Espina also ordered the demotion of three others and the suspension of 35 more.

Since Espina assumed as the NCRPO chief last September, he has dismissed 73, demoted 18, and suspended 61. This, he said, is part of his program of instilling discipline into all NCRPO personnel under his leadership.

Espina said that “he will not allow the misdeeds of a very few to compromise the quality of police services rendered by the majority of his good cops.”