By Jennifer P. Rendon
Two neophyte police trainees might be kicked out of the service.
Their offense? They allegedly got too drunk and ended up sleeping while on public commute.
Jacob John Odrada and John Anthony Lubria were recommended to undergo termination proceedings by the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO6) Termination Deliberation Board.
The recommendation was based on the initial evaluation report approved by Brigadier General Rolando Miranda, Western Visayas police chief, on June 15, 2021.
Both trainers are members of the PSBRC Class “Masidhi” who graduated from the Regional Training School 6 last March 2021.
They two are about to undergo the Field Training Program.
Their predicament stemmed from an incident that happened on June 5, 2021, the time when Iloilo City had already reverted to the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) status and selling, transporting, and public consumption liquor were banned.
A public utility vehicle driver sought help from two police officers who were on foot patrol along B. Aquino Ave. in Mandurriao district, Iloilo City.
The driver claimed that his two passengers wearing the PNP-Field Service Uniform (camouflage green) were sleeping soundly in his vehicle.
Assuming that the passengers were police officers, the driver claimed he was afraid to wake them up.
The cops on patrol subsequently helped the driver and woke up the passengers whom they later identified as police trainees Ondrada and Lubria.
The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO)’s Mobile Patrol Unit then informed the Duty Tactical PNCO of the Regional Learning and Doctrine Development Division about the case of the two police officers.
The trainees were then told to report for accounting.
During the accounting, Odrada and Lubria admitted that they drank liquor on the night of the incident.
When the incident reached Miranda’s attention, he ordered an investigation on the two police trainees.
“This is not the supposed actuation of the police trainees,” Miranda said.
Meanwhile, Miranda stressed that the PNP was not remiss in reminding PNP personnel against drinking intoxicating substance in public places.
Several memoranda were issued not only by the higher headquarters but also by PRO-6 reiterating such instruction after President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement against drunken cops.
Miranda said the fact that Iloilo City was on MECQ aggravated their case.
The subject police trainees will not face the usual administrative charges under the rules and procedures of the PNP administrative disciplinary machinery.
Rather, they will be subjected to termination proceedings considering that their appointment to police service is still on temporary status.
The Termination Deliberation Board will assess and determine the merit and fitness of the police trainees to stay in the PNP organization.
A police officer will get his or her permanency in the police service once he or she had completed the Public Safety Basic Recruit Course and the Field Training Program.
