3 Las Piñas cops caught sleeping on duty

MANILA, Philippines — Three Las Piñas policemen were caught sleeping on the job during an inspection conducted by National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar before dawn yesterday.

Corporals Eugine Ybasco and Jason Monsales of the Police Community Precinct 3 in Barangay Zapote and S/Sgt. Danny Cerbito of the PCP 2 will face administrative charges, according to Eleazar.

“We would charge them with less serious neglect of duty, which carries a punishment of 31 to 59 days of suspension without pay,” the NCRPO chief said.

Eleazar summoned PCP 3 commander Maj. Joel Gomez and PCP 2 head Lt. Edgardo Orongan to explain why no administrative sanctions should be meted against their men.

Eleazar and his party were conducting routine inspections at the Southern Police District when they chanced upon a mobile car parked in front of a Police Assistance Desk along Alabang, Zapote Road in Barangay Pamplona Dos.

“I noticed that the occupant of the car was sleeping. So I ordered my driver to go back and check the policeman in the car. When he saw us, Monsales immediately disembarked and approach us,” Eleazar said. “When I asked where his buddy was, he led us to a tricycle where I roused Ybasco from sleep.”

Eleazar proceeded to the nearby PCP 2 where he caught Cerbito, the duty desk officer, sleeping.

Cerbito was alone at the police precinct.

The policemen were disarmed of their issued firearms.

Asked why they were asleep, Ybasco and Monsales said they were tired because they were on 24/7 duty.

Cerbito said he was weary entertaining complaints from the public.

Eleazar said police officers should not sleep while rendering night duty as they might fall easy target of criminals and drug suspects.

Eleazar warned other policemen not to emulate the three as he would conduct surprise inspections anytime. – Ralph Edwin Villanueva