Napolcom orders defiant vlogger-cop to answer raps

MANILA, Philippines —  Defiant policeman-vlogger Francis Steve Fontillas has been ordered to answer why he should not be kicked out of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for posting his tirades online against President Marcos.

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) directed Fontillas to file his counter-affidavit within a non-extendable period of five days.

Complaints for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer have been filed against Fontillas, Napolcom Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan said.

“It is time for Fontillas to show that he is mentally fit to be a policeman by answering the cases that were filed against him. Let us put an end to this,” Calinisan said. “Man up and face the charges.”

Failure on the part of Fontillas to submit a comment means that he waived his right to refute the allegations hurled against him, according to Calinisan.

Fontillas, who has been a police officer for only four years, became viral on social media after he criticized Marcos and the PNP for the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte last week.

Fontillas has not stopped his tirades as he went after PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III and PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo.

Fontillas yesterday targeted television networks ABS-CBN, TV 5, GMA and government-owned station PTV for what he described as biased reporting against him.

The policeman said he would file cyberlibel cases against the television networks for reporting that he went AWOL or absent without leave.

Fontillas branded the information as fake news even if it was his mother unit, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) that reported to media that he has been AWOL since March 6.

Fontillas also posted photographs of himself claiming he has reported for duty at the QCPD headquarters at Camp Karingal.

Quezon City police director Col. Melecio Buslig Jr. did not reply when asked if Fontillas has returned to work.

Calinisan said Fontillas should have himself checked again by police doctors or any medical professional of his choice instead of posting seditious content on his Facebook account.

The QCPD has filed a sedition case against Fontillas before the city prosecutor’s office.

He is also facing five administrative complaints with the Napolcom and the National Capital Region Police Office.

Amid Fontillas’ outburst against the Marcos administration over Duterte’s turnover to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V said the PNP should be more stringent in its recruitment policy.

Ortega said the PNP should be strict in choosing the members of the police organization to “avoid incidents like this.”