By Jennifer P. Rendon
Reinstatement is in the offing for former Police Major Charlie Sustento and his two subordinates who were ordered dismissed from service more than four years ago.
But the report was based on the advanced information from sources who cited a Court of Appeals ruling.
Even Sustento himself confirmed that he has yet to receive the order.
But as early as now, Sustento is elated to be able to get back to the police service.
Sustento was dismissed from the PNP on Oct. 26, 2017 after the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) served the order from the PNP Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) based in Camp Crame.
Sustento was then the team leader of the IPPO’s Provincial Special Operations Group (PSOG) and chief of police of Ajuy Police Station.
Aside from Sustento, the dismissal order was also served to Police Officer 3 (PO3) Ramon Baylon, Jr., PO2 Joebert Detorio, and PO1 John P. Domzon.
Baylon has earlier been reinstated.
Sustento and the three police non-commissioned officers (PNCOs) were charged while they were still with the Dumangas Police Station.
In a decision signed by Emmanuel Ringpis, Jr., Ombudsman Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer II, and dated June 28, 2017, the four were found guilty of Grave Misconduct and Conduct Unbecoming of a Police Officer.
They were meted the penalty of dismissal from the service, with the accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and bar from taking civil service examination.”
On Jan. 20, 2015, Janice Braga and Richard Samontosa of Dumangas, Iloilo, filed charges against the four for grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a law enforcement officer, gross incompetence, violation of Republic Act 6713, and abuse of authority.
Samontosa alleged that at around 8 p.m. of Nov. 24, 2014, the respondents, except Sustento, invited him to the police station in connection with an alleged motorcycle theft.
The issue was not elaborated, but reports claimed that Samontosa was allegedly working for a motorcycle distribution company.
It was alleged that they could have repossessed the motorcycle, without the full knowledge of the owner, for failure to pay the dues.
In his affidavit, Samontosa refused to go with the policemen. It was then that Sustento arrived and allegedly shouted at him.
Samontosa claimed that the four officers manhandled and threatened him.
In their joint counter-affidavit dated March 30, 2015, the respondents denied the acts imputed against them.
They said they merely invited Samontosa and Braga to their station through a document denominated as invitation.
At that time, he claimed that Braga has an axe to grind against him. Braga’s brother was on Dumangas PNP’s watchlist of illegal drug personalities.
Braga’s brother did not surrender through Oplan Tokhang but chose to undergo rehabilitation, Sustento claimed.
