5 Iloilo cops dismissed for grave misconduct

ILOILO CITY, Philippines —The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has dismissed five police officers in this city for grave misconduct.

Senior Police Officer 1 Dante Sison, PO3 Alexis Jutis, PO2 Dinaree Sia and PO1s Milbert Niño and Rodel Paulan were former members of the defunct anti-illegal special operations task group of the Iloilo City police.

Senior Superintendent Joseph Celis, Napolcom-Western Visayas director, did not give details about the alleged irregularities committed by the police officers, but Jutis, Sia and Niño are facing charges in connection with the alleged kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl in Molo district.

The girl was taken from her home in November 2014, reportedly to force her to admit that she took Jutis’ service firearm at a beach resort.

In filing the complaint after her release, the victim said she was accused of taking the gun after footage of a closed-circuit television camera showed her and her friends leaving the resort while Jutis was sleeping.

 “I put my hands inside my shirt because I felt cold. They might have thought that I was hiding the gun,” she told police.

The policemen were charged for violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Act in June 2015.