Free gas vouchers get cop in trouble

MANILA, Philippines–This rather generous-with-the-gasoline cop with the Philippine National Police is now officially in trouble.

A policeman assigned to Camp Crame has been relieved of his duties after a photograph of two fuel vouchers he supposedly gave his child went viral on social media and were traced back to him, PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr. said.

In a press briefing in Crame, Cerbo declined to identify the noncommissioned officer who was assigned to the Internal Affairs Service (IAS).

“IAS head Director Alexander Roldan has ordered an investigation into the matter. He has talked to the policeman concerned,” Cerbo said.

Last week, a photo of two PNP gas slips or vouchers went viral on Facebook with the caption, “Gas supply in PH.. Thanks Pa.”

The PNP traced the slips through their serial numbers.

The PNP issues gas slips to its personnel to use in the performance of official duties.

The policeman who gave away his gas slips has the rank of SPO4 and has been in the PNP for 30 years. He was assigned to the logistics unit of the IAS, which investigates policemen for administrative offenses.

The Facebook post was shared by Top Gear Philippines and garnered mixed reactions from netizens. Some criticized the misuse of government funds, while others defended it as “benefits” of uniformed personnel.

“This is supposedly for official use only. Just because you are entitled, it doesn’t mean that you can abuse it,” Cerbo said.

He said the policeman would be investigated for misappropriation of funds, which may mean an administrative case of misconduct.

The PNP is checking if the gas slips were used at the PNP Central Gas Station inside Camp Crame. Each gas slip is for 10 liters.

Each PNP office has a fuel budget every month. When units run out of gas slips, policemen are forced to pay for the fuel for operations. Julie M. Aurelio