Metro police chief reiterates ban on drinking inside police headquarters

Metro Manila police chief Director Ricardo de Leon warned policemen yesterday against drinking liquor, displaying bold posters, gambling and drug use inside police headquarters in the metropolis.

In his directive to the five police district directors and 37 station commanders, De Leon said those found violating his instructions faces the maximum penalty of dismissal from the police service for grave misconduct.

De Leon issued his warning following the dismissal from service of the chief of the anti-drug unit of Station 4 in Novaliches and eight other policemen for turning the police station into a beerhouse during a party held last Jan. 24 by one of the police officers.

Sacked by De Leon were Superintendent Nilo Wong, chief of Station 4’s anti-illegal drugs special operations task force and PO3s Jose Usero and Jerry Villamor, PO2s Noel Magcalayo and Isagani Mateo, PO1s Micha-el Collado, Oliver Estrelles, Emetrio Mendoza Jr., and Edmond Paculdar.

Wong was sacked for his failure to stop the eight policemen from turning his office into a beerhouse during the birthday party of Usero, the personal driver of Station 4 chief Superintendent Benedicto Lopez.

During the party, a bikini-clad woman reportedly danced in front of the police officers and one of the pictures landed in the newspapers.

The administrative case against the nine cops will be handled by lawyer Rufino Menere, chief of the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan.The National Police Commission (Napolcom) is also conducting a separate probe.

De Leon said he received complaints that a number of policemen are engaged in playing tong-its and other card games to while away the hours while they are on official duty. Others are also displaying bold pictures inside their offices.

"Complainants have to wait for a longer period because policemen on duty will attend to them only after they finish their card game," said De Leon. He said he has not yet received reports that policemen are using drugs inside police headquarters but included it in his directive as well.

According to De Leon, he will conduct surprise inspections of district headquarters and police stations and precincts in the coming days.