Cops asked complainant to buy fuel for patrol car?

CEBU, Philippines - Carbon Police Station chief, Sr. Insp. Patrocenio Abesia, is at risk of being relieved from his post due to some issues on mismanagement.

This after his personnel allegedly asked a complaint in a theft case to buy gasoline for the patrol car that was used in transporting the suspect to the court for the filing of the case last Monday.

The police station reportedly failed to process its gasoline voucher to the Cebu City government for them to be provided with gasoline for their patrol car.

Cebu City Police Office director Patrocinio Comendador said the investigation conducted by Supt. Jonathan Abella of the City Intelligence Branch showed that it was PO3 Joseph Victorioso who “suggested” to the complainant to buy gasoline.

The police official said Victorioso only suggested to the complainant, a store personnel of a certain mall, to buy gasoline for the patrol car as an alibi because the truth was, the requisition of gasoline voucher for the police station was not yet processed.

Nevertheless, Comendador said he still admonished the police officer because whether or not the complainant, or any civilian for that matter, voluntarily buys gasoline for the police patrol car, the police should refuse to accept or agree because it is in the police regulation.

The CCPO director said he will task Abella to conduct a deeper investigation to find out what really happened for them to assess whether Abesia really mismanaged the station or not.

The complainant reportedly said that past 7 p.m. on Sunday, the mall’s house detective arrested Manuel Kenneth Patero, 43, resident of Cabancalan, Mandaue City for shoplifting.

Last Monday, the store’s personnel went to Carbon Police Station supposedly to accompany the police in bringing Patero to the Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor for the filing of the complaint.

But store personnel were forced to buy P200 worth of gasoline at a nearby gas station after police officers told them that they would not transport Patero unless they buy gasoline for the patrol car. — Niña G. Sumacot/WAB (THE FREEMAN)