Ombud suspends 6 cops for 9 months

CEBU, Philippines — Six police officers formerly assigned at the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) in Central Visayas were meted nine months suspension without pay after they were found administratively guilty of harboring a woman with pending arrest warrant from the court.

The Office of the Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices (MOLEO) also ordered the filing of criminal charges in court for obstruction of justice against Supt. Rex Derilo, Senior Inspector Ruel Burlat, Senior Inspector Romeo Sentinta Jr., Senior Police Officer 1 Roy Carlo Veloso, and Police Officers 3 Joseph Bugtai, and Cesar Pandong.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by then Assistant Cebu City Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro in 2016. Castro, who is now assigned in Masbate, accused the police officers of coddling Maricel Gregory, whom she charged with libel. Gregory was the live in partner of her husband, Leodegreco Sanchez, before they got married in a Muslim rite.

Castro alleged that the members of RSOG violated Presidential Decree 1829 or obstruction of apprehension and prosecution of offender and Republic Act 3019 or Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act and committed grave misconduct when they protected Gregory instead of arresting her.

Castro earlier confronted the respondents at the regional police headquarters resulting in her being charged with direct assault and malicious mischief. The case is now pending before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) in Cebu City.

The anti-graft office has found probable cause to hold the respondents for trial.

"Evidence on record showed that respondent police officers knowingly conspired together in obstructing and/or delaying the arrest and prosecution of Maricel by harboring and concealing her inside their office at RSOG," reads the Ombudsman resolution.

"Respondents were not able to convincingly explain the time of Maricel's surrender to them, or when they actually took custody of her,” it added.

The Office of the Ombudsman said that the act of coddling Gregory despite knowledge of the latter's standing warrant of arrest breached the mandate to uphold the law.

"In so doing, they placed not only their office but the entire PNP in bad light," ruling states. — FPL (FREEMAN)