Wrecked patrol car leads to town police chief's relief

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – A municipal police chief in Cagayan has been removed from his post after his unit’s brand new patrol car was severely damaged in a road accident involving one of his men.

Senior Superintendent Mao Aplasca, Cagayan police director, said Chief Inspector Noel Abiva has been relieved as police chief of Buguey town pending the resolution of the case filed against him for administrative lapses.

Abiva, who was reportedly placed on floating status at the provincial police office, was replaced by Chief Inspector Gabriel Mucay as Buguey police chief.

Abiva’s case stemmed from a road accident involving his unit’s new Toyota Innova service vehicle, which one of his men, PO2 Judy Ronquillo, had plunged into a ravine in Barangay Bagumbayan, Lallo town while allegedly drunk earlier this month.    

Reports said the incident took place as Ronquillo was quarreling with his girlfriend in the car over personal matters.

Ronquillo reportedly got permission to use the patrol car to fetch his girlfriend, who was enrolled in a caregiver school in Lallo town.

Reports said Ronquillo, supposedly in a fit of anger, first rammed the patrol car into a coconut tree, causing it to plunge into the ravine along the national highway.

Aplasca said Ronquillo, still under treatment at the Cagayan Valley Medical Center, is also facing an administrative case and could be removed from the police service.