'Arrogant' cop sacked twice

MANILA, Philippines - Since becoming known for arrogantly refusing to give way to President Aquino’s convoy in Quezon City on July 17, authorities found that Senior Police Officer 2 Ricardo Pascua Sr. had been dismissed from the service – twice – but continues to receive his salary up to the present.

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo said Pascua had been dismissed from the Philippine National Police (PNP) for grave misconduct since June 2001 but has managed to stay in the service for the past 11 years.

In last Tuesday’s incident, Pascua – who had been relieved from his post from the Quezon City Police District Station 4 in Novaliches – was found to be driving without license, keeping an illegally installed siren or wang-wang in a private vehicle, and for improper use or display of license plate.

Aside from the administrative and criminal cases he faces as a result of the July 17 incident, Robredo said the National Police Commission (Napolcom) “will also investigate and initiate the filing of criminal charges” against Pascua “for usurpation of authority and for illegally drawing salaries and other benefits from the PNP” since his dismissal in 2001.

Extortion, illegal arrest

Napolcom Commissioner Eduardo Escueta reported to Robredo that Pascua was dismissed on June 30, 2001 and Dec. 10, 2002, based on two separate decisions by two People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) offices in Quezon City.

Based on Napolcom records, Robredo said the first case against Pascua was filed by Amalia Peregrina for robbery-extortion before the Quezon City PLEB District II-A office.

The second case was filed by Siony Tabuac for illegal arrest of sidewalk vendors before the Quezon City PLEB District III office.

Robredo said he will order an inquiry to find out why Pascua remains in active duty with the PNP despite two PLEB dismissal orders against him, which are immediately executory despite the filing of an appeal or motion for reconsideration.

The inquiry, the DILG chief said, will also include clarifications on why the Tabuac case ruling was not implemented by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and why the PNP canceled the dismissal of Pascua in the Peregrina case when the reinstatement of Pascua was based on the Tabuac case.

“In both cases, the PLEB ordered the dismissal of Pascua. Such orders of dismissal from the PLEB are immediately executory under Napolcom Memorandum Circular Nos. 91-002 and 2002-010. This means Pascua should have considered himself dismissed from the service at that time,” Robredo said.

Despite being dismissed from the service, Robredo said Pascua still posed as a member of the PNP and filed an appeal with the Napolcom Regional Appellate Board in the National Capital Region (NCR), but the RAB affirmed the two PLEB decisions.

Omissions

On Dec. 6, 2004, then Napolcom-NCR regional director Emilio Salumbides issued an implementation order for Pascua’s dismissal addressed to then NCRPO Director Avelino Razon based on the Peregrina case.

In an undated order, then Napolcom NCR regional director Verulo Mapanao issued another implementation order to Razon for Pascua’s dismissal based on the PLEB and RAB’s decision on the Tabuac case. The PNP, however, never implemented the dismissal order of Pascua on the Tabuac case.

According to Napolcom records, Pascua appealed the RAB decision on the Tabuac case before the DILG on June 13, 2006 but he omitted or did not inform the DILG about the PLEB and RAB dismissal orders based on the complaint lodged against him by Peregrina.

On Dec. 3, 2008, the DILG – through then secretary Ronaldo Puno – reversed the RAB decision on the Tabuac case and ordered the reinstatement of Pascua “without payment of back wages.”

Not content with Puno’s decision, Pascua filed a motion for reconsideration for back wages with the DILG on July 9, 2009. On Oct. 7, 2010, Robredo denied Pascua’s appeal.

Again, hiding the fact that he had been dismissed from the Peregrina case, Pascua brought his appeal to Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. who ordered the payment of “back wages and other benefits due him” in a decision dated April 11, 2012.

“It is evident that SPO2 Pascua, in clear and evident bad faith, and with intent to defraud the government, misrepresented himself as a bona fide member of the PNP since June 30, 2001, when he was dismissed by the PLEB on the Peregrina case,” Robredo said.