For graft, malversation, forgery: Policeman wants official suspended

CEBU, Philippines - A policeman is seeking for the suspension of his former superior officer whom he accused of graft and corruption, malversation of public funds and forgery.

SPO1 Alfredo Diano, Jr., formerly assigned at the 7th Police Center for Aviation Security (PCAS), yesterday asked the Office of the Ombudsman to place Sr. Supt. Ritchie Posadas under preventive suspension pending investigation into the complaints he earlier filed.

Aside from the criminal complaints, Diano also accused Posadas of dishonesty and misconduct before the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and other Law Enforcement Offices.

Diano filed the complaints last year after obtaining a copy of the payroll from the Lapu-Lapu City Payroll Division, which allegedly showed that Posadas certified a forged document to support the withdrawal of his P1,000 monthly allowance from the city government.

Diano said somebody has forged his signature and collected his allowance from July to September in 2012.

Diano wants Posadas suspended to prevent him from using his position to influence or harass witnesses.

Diano said Posadas reassigned him to Dumaguete City from July 5, 2012, which would have automatically cut off his allowance from the city. But despite his reassignment, Diano claimed that somebody collected the allowance on his behalf using forged signature.

Diano also questioned his reassignment because he was rated very satisfactory in the performance evaluation conducted by the National Police Commission.

Aside from his allowance from the Lapu-Lapu City Hall, Diano alleged that his combat pay was also claimed by somebody using Posadas’ certification.

Posadas refused to comment on the charges, saying he already filed his counter-affidavit before the anti-graft body.

Posadas said Diano has the habit of filing charges against his superiors.

Posadas said Diano has been marked “AWOL” (absent without official leave) because he has not reported to his new assignment. He also accused the non-commissioned officer of moonlighting.

“Nothing to worry about kay naa pud koy mga witnesses, and the finance office can also attest nga nadawat na niya mga allowances and besides wa man sad koy power when it comes to their allowances nga gikan sa city,” Posadas said.

Posadas is confident that the charges will be dismissed. —/FPL (FREEMAN)