SONA’s ‘crying cop’ goes on 15-day leave

PO1 Joselito Sevilla

The policeman who broke into tears but stood his ground as a clash erupted between his colleagues and protesters during President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) has taken a 15-day leave of absence.

This was the information given to the Inquirer on Wednesday by Francisco Hamon, a police noncommissioned officer assigned at the Marikina police administration unit.

According to Hamon, PO1 Joselito Sevilla, a member of the Marikina police who has been in the service for 12 years, went on leave starting on Tuesday, the day after Mr. Aquino’s Sona.

He added that Sevilla filed his leave application even before the President’s Sona on July 22. However, following the declaration by the national police of a full alert status in preparation for the event, all leaves were canceled.

In an interview with the Inquirer, Sevilla’s wife Rhoda asked the media for privacy.

She said her husband, who was deployed as an antiriot policeman for the first time on July 22, had a breakdown because he was overwhelmed by the events he was witnessing.

According to her, her husband was a good person as she refused to disclose his whereabouts. “Please leave us alone,” she said.

Ruben Clavado, who works at the Marikina Police Community Precinct 2 where Sevilla is assigned, said the lawman has been part of the mobile unit for over a year.