After serving in Zambo, Sulu, Cebu troops now home

CEBU, Philippines - “We welcome you back. You are our heroes.”

This was the message yesterday of Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 director, Chief  Supt. Danilo Constantino to the Cebu troops that arrived from Zamboanga City after being deployed last September 5 as augmentation force to government troops who were fighting Moro National Liberation Front rebels.

Constantino headed the ceremony yesterday  for the arrival of the 130-strong personnel of the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) 7 led by Supt. Clifford Gairanod at the PRO-7 headquarters.

Constantino handed over a Medalya ng Kagalingan (PNP Merit Medal) to the troop for “displaying exceptional performance and bravery.”

The PRO-7 chief also commended the RPSB personnel for successfully serving as Board of Election Tellers in Jolo, Sulu during the barangay elections last October 28.

He then announced a one-week vacation leave for the troop before their next assignment for the elections in Bohol by the end of this month.

However, it was not a blissful event for all the members of the troop. 

PO1 Niño Nito Dahili was slapped with an administrative case for going on Absent without Official Leave (AWOL).

Gairanod said that a day before they were deployed to Sulu, Dahili left for Cebu despite his order to stay.

“Nananghid siya nako through text na naa daw loved one niya na mularga sa gawas. Wa nako tugti, akong giingnan na hapit na man sad mi manguli, pwede man mo mag-Skype or unsa, tugtan taka. Next thing I know, nilarga g’yud siya,” Gairanod told The Freeman.

Dahili, a resident of Bogo City, boarded a plane and left his service firearms – an M16 rifle and a caliber .45 pistol – to his classmate and fellow RPSB personnel, said Gairanod, who added that  Dahili’s excuse was invalid.

“Basin naa pa siya’y mas lawom na rason, basin nahadlok pud na iadto mi sa Sulu or unsa, but whatever the reason, bawal siya mubiya. Mag-unongay unta mi tanan didto,” the RPSB chief continued.

In fact, Gairanod said that while they were in Zamboanga City, one of his men lost a family member in Cebu and it was only a few days later that he learned about it. With his approval, the policeman attended his mother’s burial and came back to Zamboanga  City the following day.

The RPSB chief said he could have given Dahili consideration, but his order for him to return to Zamboanga City went unheeded.

Yesterday, Dahili, who initially planned to join the arrival ceremony at PRO-7, reported to the RPSB-7 headquarters in Sibonga but only inquired about his firearms and did not report to Gairanod.

Aside from being AWOL, Gairanod said Dahili could face cases for cowardice, gross neglect of duty, and insubordination, which are tantamount to dismissal from the service.

Meanwhile, PO3 Ariel Dicdican of Fuente Police Station is also facing investigation after reportedly reporting late to his post during the opening of classes last Monday.

Constantino inspected major schools in Cebu City last Monday morning and found that Dicdican, who claimed that traffic congestion delayed him for two hours, was not yet around City Central School.-(FREEMAN)