Vizcaya police official declared persona non grata

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya , Philippines  – A soon-to-be-retired police official here has been declared persona non grata by the province’s chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) for reportedly punching a lawyer right inside a town police office. 

In its manifesto, the IBP called on Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Versoza for the eventual dismissal from the service of Solano town police head Chief Inspector Pacifico Rosete Jr. for physically harming and threatening lawyer Samuel Dacayo, which it said constitutes acts of police brutality. 

“Such conduct is pure police arrogance, reflecting (Rosete’s) lack of due regard to persons coming to his (office). It’s a conduct unbecoming of a police officer and reflects that (he) is not ready to serve and protect (the citizenry),” said the two-page manifesto dated Sept. 18, copy of which was obtained by The STAR Friday.   

Besides the PNP national leadership, the manifesto of the IBP here headed by lawyer Epifanio Galima, was also forwarded to the Commission on Human Rights and Civil Service Commission.

A native of Cordon, Isabela, Rosete, set to retire next year, has been giving the media a runaround every time they tried to get his side of the reported punching incident that took place inside the Solano town police office on the evening of Aug. 28. 

Rosete’s superior, Senior Superintendent Pedro Danguilan, provincial police director, said he already called Rosete’s attention about the complaint against him.

“He told me that he would be answering the charges in the proper forum,” said Danguilan, admitting, however, that the charges against his man are “more than sufficient enough.” 

When asked for Rosete’s possible relief here, Danguilan said: “It’s up to (higher authorities) where the cases against him have been lodged.”

Dacayo, whom the IBP here described as in good moral standing, had already filed a criminal case for attempted homicide against Rosete at the provincial prosecutor’s office.

Dacayo also filed administrative cases against Rosete for grave threats, police brutality, gross arrogance and abuse of authority before the police’s Internal Affairs Service, National Police Commission and the Ombudsman which could lead to his dismissal from the service and forfeiture of all his benefits.

In an affidavit, Dacayo, son of former Vice Mayor Helena Dacayo, said that Rosete had punched him on the stomach and threatened to use an Armalite rifle against him while he was at the police station to report a traffic accident involving him. 

While at the police office, Dacayo said he asked permission from the officer on duty to call his wife using the police office phone, unaware that the telephone line was in use at the adjacent room.

Dacayo immediately put down the telephone headset after hearing somebody using the line. He then again attempted for the second time but the phone was still busy, which turned out minutes later to be Rosete who was using the said phone line.

“Inaangat mo ang telepono e may kausap ako!,” Dacayo quoted Rosete as telling him after the latter suddenly came out from an adjacent room and punched him on the stomach and then “grabbed a rifle and thrust it at me.”