[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’PRO-6 top cop target of shame campaign?’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=’#0a0a0a’]
Sunday, January 8, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=’#0a0a0a’]
ILOILO City – The deputy regional director for operations of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) and his wife face criminal and administrative charges for allegedly misusing a government vehicle.
The specific charges against Senior Superintendent Christopher Tambungan and wife Joselle could be malversation of public funds, grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer, said Chief Inspector Juvy Navales of the PRO-6’s Regional Headquarters Support Group.
A police officer found guilty of grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming could be dismissed from the service.
Tambungan said he welcomed whatever charges that would be filed. He believed the incident was being blown out of proportion to embarrass him and his wife.
Tambungan said Navales was just getting back at him. He filed two administrative cases against Navales in 2016 for failing to report for duty.
Navales, in a radio interview, said she would pursue the filing of complaints against the Tambungan couple.
Tambungan’s wife was seen driving a staff car of the PRO-6 on New Year’s Day and Navales managed to take video recording of this.
The staff car was exclusively for police officers, said Navales.
Navales was a duty officer when the staff car went out of the PRO-6’s premises around 4:30 a.m. on Jan. 1. After about an hour, the car returned.
Navales had the incident recorded at the Iloilo City Police Station 1 but only on Jan. 5.
‘NOT A PATROL CAR’
According to Tambungan, the staff car (plate number EG-3571) was not a police patrol car and intended for his personal use. His immediate family could use it as well, he claimed.
“Lumabas si misis kasi inu-ubo ako sa sobrang stress at pagod, and during that time, lahat ng drivers ko ay pinauwi ko sa kanilang pamilya,” Tambungan told the press. “Hindi naman ako pwede maka-drive kasi masama ang pakiramdam ko, so my wife took the initiative to use the staff car to buy medicine.”
Navales, however, claimed Tambungan’s wife used the staff car not only once but many times in the past and these were all recorded in a log book.
PAST CONTROVERSY
August last year, Tambungan courted controversy in line with the “character aptitude development enhancement training” in Camp Delgado. He was accused of often berating policemen in front of colleagues.
At one point, Tambungan challenged one of them to a duel, claimed Police Officer 1 Edwin Maprangala.
Maprangala was one of the police officers to took the “character enhancement training.” He claimed to have been challenged by Tambungan to a duel.
Two other police officers echoed Maprangala’s concern.
“We are police officers but he treats us like we’re not. He likes to humiliate us in front of other officers,” said a Police Officer 3 who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal.
“If we have violated some rules, he can charge us, not defame us,” a Police Officer 2 also said.
Tambungan refused to confirm or deny that he was fond of badmouthing the police officers or treating them like dirt.
“Hindi ako papatol sa statements nila,” he said.
Tambungan also did not deny or confirm that he challenged Maparangala to a duel.
But he made it clear, “Kaya nag-a-undergo sila ng character enhancement training because of their questionable attitude.”
According to Maprangala, Tambungan berated him in front of other policemen then challenged him to a duel on July 30, 2016.
“We were relieved from our posts and reassigned to Camp Delgado for character enhancement training. How can we improve if our superior himself has a questionable character,” said Maprangala.
That day, said Maprangala, he went out of Camp Delgado to have lunch and for laundry. He admitted not having asked permission from their leader, Chief Inspector Kenneth Militar.
“But I told my buddy to tell our leader that I have to go out for lunch and to have my uniform cleaned,” said Maprangala.
When he returned to Camp Delgado, Maprangala said he was punished.
Tambungan made him carry a big truck wheel weighing around 50 kilos, claimed Maprangala.
Later, he said, Tambungan ordered him and three others to perform squat exercises.
Maprangala said he declined because he had an injured left foot.
“He got irked and shouted at me, ‘Putang ina mo! Bumunot ka nga!’ while holding his service firearm. I told him, ‘I have no firearm, Sir’ and ‘I respect you, Sir,’” Maprangala added./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
