By Jennifer P. Rendon
A policeman and his friend were caught trying to sneak boxes of liquor past a checkpoint amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-1) crisis.
The incident happened around 8:15 p.m. of May 8, 2020 at the quarantine control point (QCP) in Barangay Cabugao Sur, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.
The suspects were identified as Police Staff Sergeant Paul Pingoy, 49, and Adolfo Patiam Jr., 30, both residents of Barangay San Sebastian, Sta. Barbara.
Pingoy, a member of the Regional Intelligence Division 6 (RID-6), was driving a Toyota Innova AUV (license plate (FAA-4044) when they were intercepted.
The two were on their home when policemen manning the QCP area flagged them down.
Pingoy allegedly identified himself as a policeman.
Police Major Raymond Celoso, Sta. Barbara police chief, said he was the one who flagged the vehicle and questioned the suspects’ load.
Pingoy claimed that the boxes were just floor tiles.
But when police conducted a visual check, they found that the car was loaded with 30 boxes of Tanduay Rhum (750ml).
The duo came from Muelle Loney St., City Proper district, Iloilo City.
Interestingly, a dump truck and a closed van loaded with 500 boxes of liquor also came from Muelle Loney area before they were intercepted on April 24, 2020 at Barangay Agutayan, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.
Four persons were arrested in the operation.
Pingoy and Patiam are now detained and will be charged for violation of Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code (Resistance and disobedience to a person in authority or the agents of such person) in relation to Executive Order No. 110.
Governor Arthur Defensor signed EO 110 (An Order Further Enforcing an Enhanced Community Quarantine from 01 May 2020 to 15 May 2020 to Protect the Entire Province of Iloilo from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on April 30, 2020.
Under Section 11 (Liquor Ban) of EO 110, “the selling, furnishing, offering, buying, serving, dispensing and transporting of alcoholic beverages, such as whiskey, brandy, gin, vodka, rum, cocktail, wine, champagne, beer, and such other intoxicating drinks, shall be prohibited.
CONDEMNATION
The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) condemned the offense committed by one of its police officers.
“The PNP does not tolerate wrongdoings among our personnel thus, appropriate criminal and administrative charges shall be filed against the offender.”
“On the other hand, we commend the courage and discipline of the PNP personnel manning the checkpoint for immediately effecting arrest against the offender and for confiscating the contraband,” the PRO-6 statement added.
Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas police chief, said he will make sure that internal discipline will be imposed amid the health crisis.
“Rest assured that PRO6 personnel will continue to do its mandate as frontliners in this time of the pandemic,” the statement added.
