Unmanned police desk leads to official’s relief

MANILA, Philippines—An unnamed police assistance desk in Metro Manila’s busiest bus terminal led to the relief of an official of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on Monday.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Nicanor Bartolome was inspecting bus terminals in the metropolis to oversee security measures being implemented by his men when he dropped by the Araneta Center bus terminal in Cubao, Quezon City.

At that time, the bus terminal—considered by the Philippine National Police (PNP) as the busiest in Metro Manila—was full of people going home to their provinces for the Holy Week break.

However, there were no policemen manning the public assistance desk at the terminal, prompting Bartolome to order the relief of Supt. Virgilio Fabian who has jurisdiction over the area as head of the QCPD Station 7.

Senior Supt. Rainer Idio, the QCPD head for operations, said Fabian was immediately placed on floating status.

“An investigation is being conducted and the station commander will be given a chance to explain,” Idio told the Inquirer.

According to Idio, Bartolome also failed to spot a single policeman on Edsa, one of the so-called critical areas since there are a lot of bus terminals on the major thoroughfare.

Aside from relieving Fabian of his post, the NCRPO chief also directed the QCPD to conduct administrative proceedings for neglect of duty against him.

“They should be at their posts. They should be where they have been deployed. They should be highly visible,” Bartolome reiterated as he reminded policemen that the entire force of the NCRPO had been placed on full alert for Holy Week.

This means that all leaves have been cancelled and that all policemen are required to report for work.

According to Idio, an average of 3,000 passengers flock to the Araneta Center bus terminal daily with the number expected to increase during the days leading up to Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

“The week has just started and we expect more passengers,” Idio added.

He said that Supt. Roman Pranada, chief of the NCRPO District Headquarter’s Support Unit, had been temporarily assigned to takeover Fabian’s post.

The Inquirer tried but failed to reach Fabian for comment.

The PNP, since the onset of the summer break, has been keeping close tabs on bus stations, airports and seaports.

According to PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz Jr., the busiest bus station in Metro Manila is the Araneta Center Bus terminal followed by bus stations in Pasay City. With Sara Pacia