Police brotherhood asks head to resign

Save the ideals of the police brotherhood!

This was the collective cry of the officers of the Manila’s Finest Brotherhood Association Inc. as they called on the MFBAI president to temporarily step down from his post until his alleged participation in a banking scam has been cleared by the court.

MFBAI president SPO3 Reynaldo Li, along with six retired and active Manila policemen and two civilian employees, has been charged by the court with 23 counts of estafa filed by disgruntled depositors of the Police Savings and Loan Association, Inc. (POSLAI). Li serves as vice chairman of the POSLAI board of directors.

Facing 23 counts of estafa each are POSLAI president and CEO retired Police Col. Vicente Palmon; board members Inspector Cesario Tubog and SPO3 Radito Perez, retired police officials Felix Pineda, Cesar Baria and Armando Inabangan, and civilian employees Vicente Ray Palmon III and Yolanda Sales.

Palmon, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Knights of Rizal, is likewise being questioned by disgruntled members of the association for alleged financial misrepresentation.

All the accused have posted bail of P575,000 each for their temporary liberty.

MFBAI first vice president SPO4 Norberto Obrero said it was quite ironic that their association, which promotes the welfare of the policemen, has a leader being accused of swindling policemen and their dependents.

"The charges against Li and his companions involve moral turpitude. He should resign from his post out of delicadeza to preserve the dignity of the association," Obrero said, adding he is currently contemplating resignation from his post due to the question of leadership competence prevailing in the organization.

According to MFBAI spokesman SPO3 Virgo Villareal, during their several board meetings, Li insisted on keeping his post despite the question of leadership competence raised by the directors.

"How can we honestly say that the association is fighting for the welfare of the lowly policemen when the POSLAI scam victims are MFBAI members themselves whose president is included in the charges?" Villareal said.