ILOILO City – At a quarantine control point in Barangay Nanga, Guimbal, Iloilo a policeman and a friend who were separately driving their vehicles were apprehended.
The van of the cop’s friend yielded 60 boxers of liquor.
The policeman, Staff Sergeant Jose Digcabo-on Jr., tried to dissuade the cops manning the quarantine control point from inspecting his friend’s vehicle, according to Police Lieutenant Nelson Caro, Guimbal police chief.
There is an ongoing liquor ban in line with the prevailing general community quarantine. The sale and transport of alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Both Digcabo-on and his friend, Leo Faldas, were taken to the Guimbal police station.
Digcabo-on, 47, was assigned at the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6). Faldas, on the other hand, was a resident of Molo district here.
Both were headed to Miag-ao when apprehended at around 4:40 p.m. on May 20.
According to Caro, when his policemen were about to check Faldas’ van, Digcabo-on who was in his car right behind Fadas’ van told them, “Indi pagbuksi, Sarge, kay iya na ka grupo.”
The policemen dismissed Digcabo-on’s plea and proceeded to check the van. They found 60 boxes of liquor.
Caro said Digcabo-on and Faldas face charges for violation of Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code and Republic Act 11332 in relation to Executive Order No.080 of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. placing the province under general community quarantine and imposing a liquor ban.
Digcabo-on further faces an administrative charge of grave misconduct.
“The van passed through our area twice before but this time we flagged it down,” said Caro.
Iloilo Police Provincial Office director Police Colonel Paul Kenneth Lucas warned policemen against defying the liquor ban.
“It’s an unacceptable act. We cannot tolerate our personnel violating the law we are tasked to enforce,” he said.
Prior to Digcabo-on’s May 20 arrest, three police officers were relieved from their posts and charged criminally and administratively with violating the liquor ban.
The three were Police Staff Sergeant Roy Panaguiton of Sebaste, Antique police station; Police Corporal Arnie Luminario of the Molo district police station here; and Police Staff Sergeant Paul Pingoy assigned at the intelligence division of the regional police headquarters.
Panaguiton is currently restricted at the Antique Police Provincial Office while Pingoy and Luminario at the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) and Iloilo City Police Office, respectively.
According to PRO-6 spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert Gorero, no less than Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, regional police director, ordered the relief of the three policemen.
“We have to impose disciplinary action against them. They were supposed to be the arresting officers but they were the ones violating the liquor ban,” said Gorero./PN
