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[av_heading heading=’LOW MORALE PRO-6: Higher officials will help sacked cops ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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Monday, October 30, 2017
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ILOILO City – The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) is seeking to keep the morale of its men high following the dismissal from the service of four police officers by the Office of the Ombudsman.
“The PRO-6 supports, especially on legal matters, police officers charged criminally or administratively in the performance of duty,” said Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, PRO-6 spokesperson.
The dismissal order of the Ombudsman against the police chief of Ajuy, Iloilo, Chief Inspector Charlie Sustento, Police Officer 3 Ramon Baylon Jr., Police Officer 2 Joebert Detorio and Police Officer 1 John Dimzon had been served, according to the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).
“We know that Sustento and the three other officers would overcome this obstacle in their careers through the help of our higher officials,” said Gorero.
He also assured all policemen that “Our regional director, Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag, is fully supportive of officers delivering public service and safety.”
Complainants Richard Samontosa and Janice Braga accused Sustento and the three policemen of grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of police officers, gross incompetence, abuse of authority, and violation of Republic Act 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).
The complaints were filed when Sustento was then the chief of police of Dumangas, Iloilo in 2014.
“It really hurts. I’ve been dedicated to my work. We are here to serve and protect the community from harm. Gintaya ko kabuhi ko sa mga lawless elements kag sometimes napabayaan ko na pamilya ko kay we stayed all the time in the police station to supervise and spearhead my men. In the end naging negative ang resulta,” said Sustento.
Gorero said policemen should not be dismayed with this most recent development. The PRO-6 had their backs for as long as they perform their duty in accordance with the rule of law, he stressed.
Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba, IPPO director, tasked Superintendent Elmer Armada, his deputy director for administration, to serve the Ombudsman order to the four cops Thursday last week.
In an eight-page decision signed by Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer II Emmanuel Ringpis Jr. dated June 28, 2017, the Ombudsman also meted Sustento and the three officers the accessory penalties of cancellation of civil service eligibility and forfeiture of retirement benefits.
Sustento expressed confidence that “the truth will prevail.”
“I’m still hoping that the Ombudsman decision would be reversed,” he said.
In a previous statement, PRO-6 vowed to “maximize its resources in the pursuit of justice” and vouched on the integrity of Sustento, also the head of IPPO Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit operating in the 5th District.
Complainant Samontosa alleged that on Nov. 24, 2014 around 8 p.m., Dumangas policemen Baylon, Detorio and Dimzon invited him to the municipal police station in connection with an alleged motorcycle theft.
Because he refused, claimed Samontosa, Sustento came over and shouted at him, grabbed his shirt and pulled him from the outside of his house’s locked gate.
Samontosa added that Detorio and a civilian hit his head repeatedly while Sustento took Detorio’s gun, cocked and pointed it to his head.
Braga corroborated Samontosa’s allegations, adding that Sustento even squeezed the trigger of the firearm pointed at her several times but fortunately the gun did not discharge.
In their joint counter-affidavits, the four policemen denied threatening, harassing or hurting Samontosa and Braga.
The police officers also claimed the charges against them were filed so that the complaints could have leverage over them. The Dumangas police filed a robbery case against Samontosa.
Sustento expressed disappointed over the Ombudsman decision which he described as “really biased and too harsh.”
The police officer recalled he and his men were merely responding to a call for assistance from residents.
“Fabricated testimonies” cost them their jobs, lamented Sustento.
“We’re doing our jobs well but what good is it to be dedicated in our work if this is what we get for stepping on the toes of the influential,” said Sustento.
Sustento wondered at the speed of their case’s resolution and suspected something fishy.
“Ang iban nga cases 10 years before ma-decide-dan. Ang amon ‘ya less than two years na-decide-dan dayun. We firmly believe there is an unseen hand sa amon nga kaso,” he said.
Just this Aug. 14, no less than the Philippine National Police’s Director General Ronald Dela Rosa award Sustento as “Best Junior Police Commission Officer for Operations.” The awarding was in line with the 116th Police Service Anniversary.
Then days after, on Aug. 24, Sustento received his copy of the dismissal order from the Office of the Ombudsman.
Under Sustento, the Ajuy police station topped the 2017 first quarter performance evaluation of the IPPO.
Ajuy police station was hailed as “best in law enforcement operation” against loose firearms from January to March this year./PN
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