By Jennifer P. Rendon
A month has passed, and it looks like Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan is still fuming at the six lady police officers who were allegedly caught drinking in public.
Pamuspusan, Western Visayas police chief, sounded to be raging over what he called the sense of entitlement of the said rookie cops.
Last week, a string of administrative charges was filed against Police Patrolwomen Jean Tiongco, 25; Jeseel Cordivito, 26; Ma. Lorena Semilla; 26; Rose May Ogboc, 21; Shane Grijaldo, 26; and Pearl Joy Araneta, 25.
They were charged for less grave neglect of duty, less grave misconduct, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer (for violation of Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Municipal Executive Ordinance 025-D, Section 7 and Presidential and PNP Directives).
They are now undergoing summary dismissal proceedings.
Their case is expected to be resolved on or before Oct 21, 2020.
“The President (Rodrigo Duterte) has given his orders that the police officers, personnel should not be drinking in public places, especially during this time of pandemic. And this was reiterated by the national headquarters to us,” Pamuspusan said.
He added that the incident caused disappointment to them, not only to the officers of PRO-6 but also to law abiding personnel and officers of PRO-6.
“Imagine a patrolwoman trying to test and disregard the instruction by no less than the commander-in-chief President Duterte. How dare these patrolwomen go against the instruction or order of the commander-in-chief?” he said.
Their conduct might be a small violation “but if you violate the word and instruction of the President, then this is a very big thing,” he said.
A clearly peeved Pamuspusan declared that the six lady cops did not deserve any minute more in the organization.
“Because if you come to violate the instruction of the commander in chief, then you don’t deserve to be part of the organization. They should know that,” he said, as he reiterated how big a violation it is for a police officer to disregard the word of the President.
The region’s top cop said he could not fathom what drove the six to commit such a violation.
”Let’s see kung anong sagot nila, unless they would see that they were authorized by higher headquarters to drink which I doubt. I don’t see any acceptable reason. I don’t know. I can’t imagine what their reasons are,” he said.
It was just simply frustrating. He said that even their classmates and company mates also share the same disappointment.
Pamuspusan said that the whole PRO-6 is trying to comply and be part of the community because of the pandemic “and here comes these six patrolwomen trying to show that they are entitled animals… that they could just go around the instruction of the higher headquarters,” he said.
Pamuspusan said that he is against the sense of entitlement of police officers. He claimed he doesn’t to talk to them.
“They don’t deserve. They don’t deserve a second chance. Giving them a second chance would send a wrong signal to other policemen. Patrolwoman tapos lasenggo? Hindi makatiis?” He said.
Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) spokesperson, earlier said the Discipline, Law and Order Section (DLOS) of the PNP Regional Personnel and Human Resource Doctrine Division sent summons to the accused on September 30.
The six will be required to submit their answer relative to the charges against them within 7 days from receipt of the summons.
Police Staff Sergeant Edmar Espinosa will act as their summary hearing officer.
The six policewomen were undergoing PNP Basic Internal Security Operations Course (BISOC) training at the 2nd Iloilo Police Mobile Force Company at Camp Jalandoni in Barangay Zerrudo, Sara, Iloilo when they were caught drinking alcoholic beverages at a restaurant on Sept 12.
A day before the six lady cops were caught, Major General Alfred Corpus, PNP Directorate for Operations head, reiterated to all regional directors the strict prohibition of drinking liquor in public places on all PNP personnel in keeping with the orders of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
The apprehended police trainees are under the supervision of the PNP Training Service’s Regional Special Training Unit (RTSU)-6.
They were placed in the custody of the local police and were subsequently turned over to RSTU-6 under Police Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Macasil, who also serves as the Course Director of the BISOC.
Immediately after the incident, Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas police chief, ordered the relief of the trainees from RSTU-6 and their return to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU) while waiting for the resolution of their case.
The policewomen’s quandary started when members of Sara Police Station, to include its chief Major Jose Nemias Pamplona, caught them drinking liquor at Montejo’s Restaurant in Barangay Pasig, Sara.
Pamplona’s group was about to have lunch when they saw the group.
“Their looks are a giveaway that they’re police trainees,” Pamplona said.
Pamuspusan has subsequently reiterated his order for the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division (RIDMD) to hasten the filing of highest administrative case against the police trainees.
