ILOILO – The Office of the Ombudsman suspended for six months the chief of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office’s (IPPO) Investigation Division.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Pinuela was charged before the Ombudsman back in 2019 for alleged grave threats, grave coercion, and violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).
Pinuela was indicted for grave threats. The Ombudsman found probable cause for a criminal case, but his grave coercion case was dismissed.
The cases started back in May 2019. Pinuela responded to reports of rampant vote-buying in Barotac Nuevo.
Pinuela and his men were able to recover money in envelopes.
Some persons were eventually charged. One countersued. He claimed Pinuela threatened him with a gun.
Pinuela was eventually further charged with illegal possession of firearm.
He denied the accusation and dismissed as harassment the charges filed against him./PN
