71 policemen face probe for not going to Bohol

SEVENTY-ONE policemen, mostly from the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), are facing investigation for failing to join the 743 policemen who were deployed to Bohol province to secure last Monday’s special barangay elections.

Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino, chief of the Police Regional Office (PRO-7), said the 71 policemen are under a pre-charge evaluation.

The policemen had to justify their absence lest they be charged for grave offense.

Constantino also ordered city and provincial police directors to explain why not all policemen were deployed.

Constantino said the barangay elections were generally peaceful but shooting incidents in Carmen, Danao and Buenevista towns could have been election-related.

Chief Insp. Enrique Belcina, chief of the Police Community Relation of PRO-7, said some personnel of CCPO went to Bohol on their own and did not join the police team who boarded the Philippine Navy vessel.

Belcina said it will be determined who among the policemen who didn’t go to Bohol after proper accounting./CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON