ILOILO City – Two police officers of the La Paz district police station are under investigation for allegedly texting while on duty.
“There is a standing order. Police personnel are not allowed to use cellular phones while on duty in the field, visible to the public,” said Police Major Mark Evan Salvo, La Paz police chief.
The two police officers facing probe were Patrolman Alban Diamante and Patrolwoman Miraluna Castillo, both detailed at the transport terminal in Barangay Baldoza, La Paz.
It was a concerned citizen who initially alerted DyOK Aksyon Radyo Iloilo about the two police officers by sharing photos of them on the radio station’s Facebook page.
Salvo said he had seen the photos of the alleged texting taken on July 5.
“They can text if it really is an emergency but not in public, at dapat nasa tagong area,” he stressed.
In a recent order, Philippine National Police’s Director General Oscar Albayalde said police officers caught texting or even sleeping while on duty will face administrative charges./PN
