ILOILO City – Eight members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) assigned at the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) were dismissed from the service for grave misconduct.
They were Police Patrolwoman Agnes Bagatela and her husband Patrolman Wilne Bagatela, Police Staff Sergeant Rodel Paulan, Police Staff Sergeant Dinaree Sia, Police Staff Sergeant Alexis Jutis, Police Executive Master Sergeant Dante Sison, Police Executive Master Sergeant Ritzie Ruiz, and Police Staff Sergeant Ricardo Morante Jr.
Administrative complaints were filed against them before the National Police Commission (Napolcom).
The dismissal order of Paulan, Sia, Jutis, Sison, and Ruiz took effect on Jan. 28 while Morante received his dismissal on Jan. 29 this year.
The Bagatela couple, however, refused to receive their dismissal order dated Feb. 3, 2021. They sought a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the court against Napolcom.
The national headquarters of the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame sent the dismissal orders against the eight personnel to the regional police office here, according to PRO-6 spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong.
Malong said the cops were then released from the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU) “since they are no longer connected with the organization or they are now civilians in status.”
“All their benefits and salary have been stopped,” Malong added.
However, Malong said they can still appeal their dismissals.
“The dismissal of the eight policemen should serve as a warning to other police personnel. This is part of our internal cleansing,” she stressed.
Morante was one of the four police officers tagged in the killing of businessman Delfin Britanico last year.
Morante’s dismissal – but for another case – was ordered by Napolcom in Nov. 29, 2016 yet but the national police headquarters sent the order to the PRO-6 just this March 24, 2021.
It was Britanico’s father, former congressman Salvador “Buddy” Britanico, who alerted the PRO-6 about Napolcom’s nearly five-year-old unimplemented dismissal order against Morante after making verifications with the Commission about the policeman.
The administrative complaint for grave misconduct against Morante was filed by restaurateur and interior designer Edgardo Suelo.
In his complaint, Suelo told Napolcom that on Sept. 13, 2007, Morante went to his (Suelo’s) restaurant for a drinking binge.
When the cop was later asked to pay, he refused, according to Suelo, and started kicking tables and chairs.
In July 2011, Napolcom found Morante guilty and punished him with one rank demotion.
Morante appealed the decision.
Napolcom junked the cop’s appeal and modified the penalty in a resolution dated Nov. 29, 2016.
From a mere demotion of rank, Morante was ordered dismissed from the police service, “taking into consideration the aggravating circumstance of taking advantage of official position when the offense was committed.”/PN
