Malabon cop axed for sleeping during riot

MANILA, Philippines - A desk officer caught sleeping at a police precinct in Barangay Tonsuya, Malabon while a riot was ongoing was ordered removed from his post yesterday.

Police Officer 2 Luis Alojacin and Police Community Precinct 8 commander Inspector Joseph Donaldo were reassigned to the Malabon police’s administrative holding unit, according to National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Chief Superintendent Joel Pagdilao.

Donaldo and Alojacin will undergo 30 days of “Balik sa Kampo” training at the NCRPO, he added.

Alojacin faces the charge of less grave neglect of duty while Donaldo was relieved because he had command responsibility. 

Pagdilao ordered an investigation after no less than Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento brought the incident to his attention. Before dawn yesterday, two groups of minors who ranged in age from 11 to 15, were engaged in a street brawl and several were hurt.

A television crew rushed to the precinct to seek help but found the door closed. When the crewmembers pushed the door open, they found Alojacin sleeping at his post.

In a television interview, Donaldo said his men had been conducting foot patrols in crime-prone areas in the precinct’s jurisdiction at the time of the riot.

He said Alojacin had joined his colleagues on foot patrol and fell asleep after doing the rounds.– Non Alquitran, Cecille Suerte Felipe