The Police Regional Office-7 has finally issued an order for the implementation of the 45-day suspension order against Sr. Insp. Jose Liddawa for grave misconduct after figuring a fistfight with newsmen last year.
The suspension was meted after an investigation into the case that caught the attention of the public and high-ranking police officials in PNP headquarters in Manila.
Last September 3, Liddawa, ABS-CBN reporter Ramil Paican and cameraman Joel Noel exchanged blows after Liddawa's car hit the ABS-CBN crew cab in Mandaue City. The whole episode was videotaped by another cameraman.
The director of the Mandaue City Police Office, Sr. Supt. Rodel Calungsod filed charges of grave misconduct against Liddawa and designated Sr. Insp. Troy Warren Cayanan from the Legal Service in Negros to handle the case as hearing officer.
Aside from the suspension, the policeman will not be receiving his monthly salary. His PNP productivity bonuses are also forfeited for one year.
Regional police director Chief Supt. Ronald Roderos said he already signed the order last January 31 and it will be forwarded to the Regional Human Resource Development Division.
Human Resource chief Sr. Supt. Vicente Loot said the said resolution is the same one that came out in the news last year only that this is now for final issuance.
If Liddawa so chooses, he has ten days to file his motion for reconsideration upon receipt of the order.
Liddawa’s counsel Noel Archival said he has not yet received a copy of the order but said the suspension has already been served by his client since last year and they are not interested to file a motion against this.
“Kini siya nga penalty mahulog ra ni siya nga good as served na, and I will no longer file a motion for reconsideration aron matapos na ning maong estoryaha,” Archival said. - Edwin Ian Melecio/BRP