5 Manila police sacked during Holy Week

MANILA, Philippines – They were supposed to be on duty but their attention was on leave. For this, five Manila policemen were sacked during the Holy Week for not manning their posts.

Included in those relieved of their positions was the Rizal Park precinct commander, Chief Inspector Efren Pangan, who was sacked Tuesday after no less than President Aquino noticed the police tourist outpost in the area was unmanned on Monday.

The police officers, who were supposed to be manning the outpost, Police Officers 1 Ronald Olarte and Ronel Mendoza, were also relieved.

The three have been placed under investigation for administrative charges of simple neglect of duty, and have been replaced, the Manila Police District director, Chief Supt. Roberto Rongavilla, said.

Olarte and Mendoza were reassigned back to the MPD Police Station 5, while Pangan’s fate has not been decided by the district headquarters service unit, Rongavilla added.

“We have corrected it, and we have enhanced the tourist police force,” Rongavilla said.

On Friday, the MPD organized a bigger tourist police force of 75 personnel, and have made it district-level instead of station-level for better supervision.

“We want to send a signal that Rizal Park is a safe place for tourists; and that our men not only provide security operations but also tourist services,” Rongavilla said. He added the MPD would be having an orientation with the Department of Tourism on Wednesday and Thursday.

The National Capital Region Police Office has also provided MPD a 30-man augmentation force for the week.

On Tuesday, Rongavilla also relieved Police Officers 3 Jay Allen Paras and Gerardo Blen of MPD-PS 3 for not being at their post at the police assistance desk of the Philippine Rabbit bus terminal on Taft Avenue. Paras and Blen have been reassigned to the MPD headquarters for the meantime.

All police officers sacked from their posts during the Holy Week have been undergoing investigation, Rongavilla said.