Rookie cop with 10 suspensions belongs to family of cops

MANILA, Philippines - A rookie Marikina policeman with 10 suspensions and at least two criminal cases against him belongs to a family of policemen, an official said yesterday.

Police Officer 1 Jaime Jan Brian Nicabera’s father is a retired inspector while his mother is a retired superintendent, both formerly assigned with the Pasig City police, Marikina police chief Senior Superintendent Vincent Calanoga told The STAR.

Nicabera’s wife is a Police Officer 1 with the Eastern Police District and his half-brother is also a police officer, he added, but did not state the half-brother’s rank.

Calanoga described Nicabera’s parents as kind, hardworking disciplinarians and “their colleagues have only good words” for them. He said he has no personal knowledge of the records of Nicabera’s wife and half-brother.

Records show that since joining the police force in 2009, he was suspended 10 times on charges of simple neglect and less grave neglect of duty due to absenteeism.

Nicabera faces charges for extorting P15,000 at a Mandaluyong City mall last July 15 from the sibling of a man facing drug charges.

He is also facing a case of grave misconduct and dereliction of duty before the Marikina prosecutor’s office after he arrested a man for possession of marijuana but not filing a case against him last June.

Calanoga said Nicabera’s father went to him, pleading that his son be given another chance in the marijuana arrest case, but he turned him down.

“This rookie cop should be taught a lesson so others would not follow his bad example,” said Calanoga, adding that Nicabera’s case in Marikina merits the maximum penalty of dismissal from the police service.

Nicabera was relieved from the EPD and transferred to the Regional Police Holding Administrative Unit of the National Capital Region Police Office.