Espina sacks 19 Metro cops

MANILA, Philippines - National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Leonardo Espina yesterday sacked 19 policemen, demoted five, and suspended 20 others for committing various offenses.

Since he assumed the NCRPO post last Sept. 7, Espina has dismissed 58 erring policemen, demoted 15 and suspended 26 others. He said that erring policemen have no place in the police service.

The dismissal, demotion and suspension of officers came after a 30-day deliberation on their pending cases for grave misconduct.

Dismissed were Police Officer 3 Ricardo Ailes and Police Officer 1 Herminigildo Gajeto, both of the Southern Police District, for irregularities in the performance of duty, illegal arrest and extortion; PO1 Roberto Cruz of the Manila Police District for robbery in band and Republic Act 7610 or child abuse; PO1 Vincent Paul Medina of MPD, Senior Police Officer 1 Cirilio Zamora, and Police Officer 1 Norlito Daguman of SPD for robbery extortion; Senior Police Officer 1 Froilan Pontivedra of the Eastern Police District for malversation of public property; SPO1 Agustin Villanueva of the Quezon City Police District and PO3 Reynaldo Angeles of QCPD.

PO2 Rolando Manipolo and PO1 Robert Ryan Noe for frustrated homicide and serious physical injuries; Chief Inspector Reynante Ibon for murder and attempted murder; PO1 Bernandino Meneses for murder; PO3 Gerardo Javier of the NCRPO for grave misconduct; and Police Officers 1 Sieroma Prudente and Julius Enderio, PO3 Pacholo Nang of the Northern Police District, PO1 Abdulah Ontuwa (EPD), and PO1 Eric Raz Nicodemus (SPD), all for serious neglect of duty.

Espina said Ibon was charged with murder and attempted murder in November last year based on the testimony of survivor Jean Girl Maxian.

Cruz, along with the late Police Officer 3 Morris Malindog, was tagged in a robbery in Paco Roman street, Sta. Ana, Manila last May 30.

Medina was charged for the “hulidap” of Korean nationals Baek Sung Kyun and Lee Jun Hee last April in Malate, Manila.

Zamora and Daguman were arrested by personnel of the Regional Police Intelligence and Operations Unit in an entrapment operation in Parañaque City in October last year while allegedly trying to extort Acmad Alandoni.

Meanwhile, the five demoted officers were Senior Police Officer 3 Jesus Acuña (QCPD) for slander and oral defamation; Chief Inspector Eduardo Villanueva (NPD), for acts of lasciviousness; PO2 Romualdo Dimala (QCPD) for neglect of duty; Senior Police Officer 1 Danilo Esparza  for abuse of authority, and Police Officer 3 Romel Apanay (QCPD).

Among those suspended for grave misconduct were PO1 Sonny Merino (EPD), PO3 Eduardo Lagata, PO1 Jeremy Oliver Felix, PO1 Joson Cani Vega (MPD), PO2 Rustico Solomon, SPO1 Guimar Nadera, SPO1 Michael Sioson, PO1 Hector Tejada (SPD), SPO1 Andres Aserit, PO2 Saniel Cristobal (QCPD), PO1 Joseph Navigar (SPD), and PO1 Alex Victor Noveloso (QCPD).