ILOILO City – The three police officers who entered a nightclub here last year and created a scene were slapped with a two-month suspension.
Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, regional police director, confirmed having approved the suspension of Police Chief Master Sergeant Jose Dingal, Police Senior Master Sergeant Fernil Mark Mallorca and Police Staff Sergeant Ralph Mabuque.
The three were assigned at the Regional Personnel Headquarters Support Unit of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) at the time they were found to have entered Club 88 Disco Pub and Restaurant on JM Basa Street, City Proper on June 25, 2019 and initially refused to pay for the P5,100 worth of food and drinks they ordered.
The PRO-6’s Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division conducted an investigation and after seven months of summary hearing recommended the suspension of the three police officers.
Pamuspusan said yesterday he approved the recommendation two weeks ago, on Dec. 30, 2019.
Aside from the suspension, the three policemen won’t be receiving salaries and bonuses for the whole year.
“I approved their suspension because I found them guilty. But theirs was only a light offense. This is a disciplinary action,” said Pamuspusan.
The offense which the three police officers were found guilty of by the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division was “less grave neglect of duty.”
National Police Commission’s Memorandum Circular 2016-002 defined “neglect of duty” or nonfeasance as “the omission or refusal, without sufficient excuse, to perform an act or duty, which it was the peace officer’s legal obligation to perform; implies a duty as well as its breach and the fact can never be found in absence of duty.”
“Less grave neglect of duty”, on the other hand, was defined as “fail)ing to comply with any lawful order or instruction of superior officer or Chief of Police.”
Five months or on Jan. 9, 2019 before the three policemen entered Club 88 Disco Pub and Restaurant, then Philippine National Police director general Oscar Albayalde reminded all cops that they were prohibited from drinking in karaoke bars, nightclubs, pubs and other public places.
The suspension order was served to the three policemen yesterday./PN
