Provincial police stands behind Solante

CEBU, Philippines - Provincial Police Director Jesus Gaquing yesterday said his office will stand behind PO3 Reynaldo Solante, a member of CPPO’s police bomb disposal team, who is in hot water for allegedly letting his wife keep his Armalite rifle.

Gaquing said he is but exercising his right to support his men, the same way that City Police Director Patrocinio Comendador had expressed support for PO2 Marvin Sanson whom Solante’s wife Christine had accused of stealing P300,000 cash and three cellular phones from her apartment where she kept the rifle last week.

“Comendador ni back-up sa iyang tao so mao sab akong buhaton kang Solante… It is his right to support so it is also my right to support Solante,” Gaquing said.

He, however, emphasized that the issue will not affect the working relationship between CCPO and CPPO.

“I just want to make it clear that it is not between (the) CCPO and (the) CPPO, Gaquing said.

The other day, Comendador said the Solante couple can be charged with malversation of government property, as indicated in a provision of the PNP Revised Penal Code. He said Christine should not have carried the firearm, as it is government property.

Gaquing agreed that the firearm is government property and is not designed to be carried by a civilian, but explained that because of the hectic schedule of the Annual General Inspection last week, Solante left the gun in his car, which was driven by Christine.

“Tungod ni sa time nga hectic kaayo, nahibilin ni sa sakyanan pero anyway part nani sa investigation,” Gaquing said.

Solante was reportedly issued the A2 firearm for the sniping test during the inspection. 

However, a security guard of a pension house where Christine dropped by to eat saw the firearm in the car and reported the same to the Mobile Patrol Group. Sanson and SPO2 Rene Sultan later flagged Christine’s car, but Christine reportedly told them that the gun was kept at her apartment, prompting the policemen to go with her there.

Sanson had denied Christine’s allegations and said Christine consented to the search and was even the one who handed the gun over to him.

Gaquing said CPPO will submit evidence to support Solante. He suggested that the policemen involved in the controversy face Regional Police Director Lani-o Nerez to resolve the issue.

Comendador said earlier that the Investigation and Detective Management Branch already submitted its investigation on the matter to PRO-7.

Comendador challenged Christine to produce the bank withdrawal receipt of the missing P300,000 cash, as Christine said she would submit additional documents to the National Bureau of Investigation to support her complaint against Sanson and Sultan. — Gabriel C. Bonjoc/JMO   NLQ   (FREEMAN NEWS)