ILOILO City – The Regional Internal Affairs Service (RIAS) of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) dismissed from the service two police officers for gross neglect of duty – Police Officer 1 Edwin Maprangala of Dumangas, Iloilo police station and Police Officer 1 Benny Castor of Alimodian, Iloilo police station.
According to the RIAS, sometime during the election period in May 2016 Mapragala – assigned at Napnud Elementary School in the town of Leganes – left his post and was seen with 4th District’s Cong. Ferjenel Biron in Dumangas.
On the other hand, Castor was dismissed in relation to an inmate’s escape last year. He was the duty jailer when the inmate fled.
RIAS conducted three months of hearings from June to September this year prior to releasing its recommendations, said Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, regional police director.
“We are serious in our internal cleansing program,” said Bulalacao.
Maprangala and Castor were among the 54 police officers administratively charged this year. Six were eventually demoted, 11 were suspended and one slapped with a forfeiture of salary.
“Our internal cleaning efforts are genuine. We have been conducting random drug tests. We have moral recovery programs. I even published my personal contact numbers where anyone could report police personnel involved in illegal activities,” said Bulalacao.
When he assumed office on June 5, Bulalacao vowed to impose organizational discipline at the PRO-6.
Bulalacao’s other thrusts were the campaigns against illegal drugs and crimes and curbing if not totally stopping the involvement of policemen in illegal activities such as drug pushing or using.
“My actions shall be anchored on the guidance of the Philippine National Police chief emphasizing internal reforms and organizational discipline. Under my watch, I will see to it that organizational discipline is imposed to have integrity and individual reform,” said Bulalacao.
He also warned police personnel not to smoke, text or sleep while on duty.
“The instructions of our PNP chief are very clear. Ayaw namin nang patulog-tulog na pulis, nagso-smoke while on duty at nagte-text sa maraming tao,” said Bulalacao./PN
