A peculiar police officer

Patrolman Francis Steve Fontillas is a peculiar police officer. When former president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested and brought to The Hague, Netherlands, he posted threats on social media against President Bongbong Marcos Jr. as well as the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Interpol. He said that Marcos would be arrested and threatened war with the ICC and Interpol if Duterte was harmed. All that was said in his video while wearing a PNP uniform. The significance of that will be made clear. He is obviously a DDS or Diehard Duterte Supporter. I hope he is not the other kind of DDS supposedly notorious in Davao.

According to the PNP, Fontillas had “mood swing episodes” in 2023. That is why QCPD spokesperson Police Capt. Febie Madrid explained that he was placed in administrative work so he could be monitored and helped. However, he expressed his threats against Marcos, the ICC, and Interpol while in uniform. Because of this, he committed a violation. He has now been charged with inciting to sedition along with administrative charges because of his clear partisan politics which the PNP should not be doing. Police should be serving the people, not the politicians. In Fontillas’ case, it is clear that Duterte is important as air to him.

The cases filed against him are serious. So, the question is, if there have been mood swings in the past as well as his staunch support for a former president undergoing criminal proceedings, should he continue to be a police officer? Fontillas showed up at the QCPD and apologized while crying. I recall a former PNP chief with a penchant for crying who is another staunch supporter of Duterte. Fontillas would refrain from posting inciteful posts but stated that he will not resign from his post. If the inciting to sedition pushes through and he is found guilty, he will be dismissed from the service and even go to prison.

The PNP must remain apolitical. I can understand everyone has their own political opinions, including members of the PNP. But remember that the PNP is supposed to serve the people, not a particular politician. The same goes for soldiers. They must uphold the Constitution at all costs. Fontillas may not be the only police officer with strong feelings of support for Duterte. Having said that, The Hague should consider that before allowing him to return home while waiting for the ICC to come up with a decision regarding the merits of his case. The government might have to deal with his supporters when the time comes for him to return to The Hague. Something I’m sure it would prefer not to.