Rookie cop with goatee relieved from assignment

MANILA, Philippines - A rookie policeman sporting a goatee was relieved from his assignment by no less than Metro Manila’s top police official, who spotted his “unsightly” appearance while manning a post in Quezon City in preparation for President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address on July 22.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Chief Superintendent Marcelo Garbo Jr. sacked Police Officer 1 Michael Castellano after a dressing down.

Castellano was the first casualty of Garbo’s pronouncement that he would be very strict when it comes to the physical appearance of policemen in Metro Manila.

Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Richard Albano said Castellano, who is assigned with the Quezon City Police District-Station 7, would be reassigned to the NCRPO headquarters in Taguig.

During a recent visit at Camp Karingal, Garbo, who was appointed NCRPO director last week, said he would be very strict regarding the undignified behavior of policemen, especially those in uniform.

Garbo had specifically prohibited policemen from picking their nose and scratching their crotch in public while in uniform.

Castellano was a member of the police team assigned outside the South Gate of the House of Representatives as part of security preparations for the President’s SONA.

Garbo immediately noticed the unshaven rookie policeman during an inspection of the police units.

Albano even noted that it appeared Castellano’s goatee had been growing for days.

There was another policeman who received a dressing down for sporting sideburns.

QCPD deputy director for administration Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao said Castellano could also face an administrative case for violating a specific instruction made by the new NCRPO director.