Ex-cop chief’s conviction over subordinate’s suspension upheld

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has upheld the graft conviction of a former chief of police of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in connection with the unlawful suspension of his subordinate in 2011.

In a resolution promulgated recently, the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division said Brig. Gen. Bienvenido Latag failed to raise any meritorious argument in his motion that would warrant the reversal of an earlier decision finding him guilty of violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The Sixth Division earlier sentenced Latag to six to eight years in prison and perpetually disqualified him from holding public office.

The case against Latag’s co-accused – Col. Jaime Pido, former chief of the ARMM police human resource department – was dismissed due to his death in 2018.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2015, the case stemmed from Latag’s approval of a 90-day preventive suspension order against Lt. Romenick Linsangan on April 12, 2011.

The suspension was due to criminal and administrative cases filed against Linsangan by a certain Goldberrie Carlos.

The ombudsman said Latag approved Pido’s request to suspend Linsangan despite knowing that the criminal case was dismissed by the Regional Trial Court of Cotabato on April 4, 2011 and the administrative case withdrawn by Carlos on Feb. 15 of the same year.

Although Latag lifted the suspension order on May 12, 2011, Linsangan’s salaries, allowances and benefits were not reinstated.

Latag reassigned Linsangan to the Basilan police on May 16 without providing him transportation allowance, the ombudsman said.

The anti-graft court said Latag and Pido had no legal authority to suspend Linsangan based on the criminal and administrative cases filed against the officer.