'Arrogant' cop faces another dismissal proceeding

Manila, Philippines - The policeman who had twice been dismissed from the Philippine National Police (PNP) – but managed to hang on to his badge for the past 11 years – will soon face another dismissal proceeding for blocking President Aquino’s convoy in Quezon City earlier this month.

Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Mario de la Vega approved the recommendation to conduct summary dismissal proceedings against Senior Police Officer 2 Ricardo Pascua. The case will be forwarded to the National Capital Region Police Office, which will conduct the summary hearings, said Superintendent Ferdinand Villanueva, head of the QCPD’s District Investigation and Detection Management Division.

De la Vega has approved Villanueva’s recommendation to conduct the summary dismissal proceedings. Villanueva’s office was the one that conducted the pre-charge evaluation to determine probable cause.

Pascua, who was driving an Asian utility vehicle, had refused to give way to the President’s convoy in Quezon City on July 17. He was relieved of his assignment at the QCPD Station 4 following the incident.

He was found to be driving without a license, keeping an illegally installed siren or wang-wang in a private vehicle, and improperly displaying the vehicle’s license plate.

It is not the first time that Pascua faced dismissal proceedings. Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said that based on records of the National Police Commission, 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.

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 has said he would initiate an inquiry as to how Pascua managed to remain in service despite these decisions.