13 Metro cops ‘saved,’ 15 fired

On the same day National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina dismissed 15 policemen, he also “redeemed” 13 others.

On Tuesday, Espina signed an order clearing 13 policemen from different Metro police districts who were facing administrative cases.

“Not all policemen with cases are at fault. Some of them just get accused unfairly. That’s why the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division of the NCRPO conducts thorough probes to clear the names of innocent policemen …” Espina said.

The policemen who were reinstated to full status on Tuesday included Supt. Norberto Babagay, the former commander of the Galas police station in Quezon City.

Babagay, who was accused of neglect of duty, was relieved of his post on the principle of command responsibility after two of his men, PO3 Wilberto P. Blanco and his brother PO2 William P. Blanco, were accused by Barangay 711 chair Eduardo Torcelino of arresting him and a friend on trumped-up drug charges.

Torcelino said the brothers planted the evidence on him and his friend and then took their money worth P170,000.

The Blancos have since been relieved and are undergoing summary dismissal proceedings.

A case filed against PO3 Arnulfo Ardales and PO1 Rhonan Guevarra of the Eastern Police District for illegal arrest was junked after the complainant, Rowena Mendoza, failed to attend the hearings.

Some of the other dismissed cases were for neglect of duty and grave misconduct, robbery-extortion and violence against women and children. The other Metro policemen who were exonerated on Tuesday were PO1 Zaldy Matias, PO2 Noel Bollosa, PO3 Rodney See, SPO4 Marilou Rheberg, PO1 Alith Pacheco, SPO1 Raul Tinana, SPO3 Delfin Deudor, PO2 Carlo C. Cruz, PO2 Ernesto R. Albero and SPO1 Ricardo C. Pascua.

“I hope with their return to service, they can prove to their colleagues and their areas that they are rightful public servants,” Espina said.

“NCRPO policemen work 24/7 in patrolling the streets of Metro Manila to secure and ensure peace and order in every community. They deserve fair judgment and respect,” he added.

Meanwhile, Espina also ordered the dismissal of 15 policemen found guilty of various offenses.

They included PO2 Michael Soriano and PO1 Aldrin Ignacio of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) for robbery/extortion and arbitrary detention; PO1 William Cristobal of the Manila Police District (MPD) for frustrated murder; PO1 Orlando Medico of the QCPD for illegal drugs; PO3 Resty Cunanan of the Southern Police District for threats, malicious mischief, trespassing and alarm and scandal; and PO2 Eliseo R. Santos and PO1 Jeremias P. Englis Jr. of the QCPD for failure to prosecute a drug case.

At the same time, Espina also ordered the demotion of three policemen and the suspension of 35 more. Police Officers 2 Marlon Blando and Bernardo Lapaz of the MPD were demoted for being absent without official leave while the same penalty was meted out to PO3 Michael Pablo of the QCPD for grave misconduct.