2 Eastern Visayas police execs fail ‘nightlife check’

PALO, Leyte — The ongoing "nightlife check" on police officers has claimed two "victims" in Eastern Visayas — the police chief of a Samar town and the legal service head of the regional command.

Reportedly caught drinking with some friends in a videoke bar in Tacloban City the other night, Inspector Arnulfo Amascual was relieved as police chief of Basey town, while Chief Inspector George Almaden, regional legal service chief, was placed on "floating status," records show.

Amascual, however, claimed that he was at the videoke bar not to drink but to relax and enjoy with his family.

Senior Inspector Rolando Vincio replaced Amascual as Basey police chief.

In Almaden’s case, Chief Superintendent Dionisio Coloma Jr., Eastern Visayas police director, said it is up to the director for legal service at Camp Crame, who has direct administrative supervision over Almaden, to impose any sanction against him.

Coloma said Camp Crame’s memorandum prohibits police personnel from going to nightclubs, videoke bars and other nightspots.

"Noon pumupunta rin tayo diyan (I used to go to these places myself) but after the memorandum came out, I stopped going to such nightspots," he said.

Both Amascual and Almaden have submitted their explanations to the chief directorial staff as part of the investigation.