Cop sacked for refusing to increase child support

Philandering policemen, beware.

A Parañaque City policeman has been dismissed from the service for his continued refusal to raise his P200 monthly support for his love child.

"If respondent cannot look into the welfare of a relative by blood, how can we expect him to look into the welfare and protect the interest of the citizenry he has sworn to protect?" asked Inspector General Alexis Ca-nonizado, referring to SPO3 Francisco Tulang, a desk officer of the Parañaque police.

Tulang was dismissed after an abandonment and non-support complaint was filed by his 16-year-old daughter, April, a high school sophomore at the General Trias High School in General Trias, Cavite, before Canonizado, head of the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Tulang can still appeal the decision, Canonizado pointed out.

A preliminary conference was held so father and daughter could settle their differences amicably, but to no avail, said Canonizado in his two-page report.

April, accompanied by her mother Virginia Fabia, appeared during the formal hearing called by Canonizado, which was ignored by Tulang despite his receipt of a subpoena. During the summary hearing, Fabia submitted as evidence April’s certificate of birth.

On Sept. 16, 1986, Tulang admitted in writing that the girl was his illegitimate daughter with Fabia. He then executed an affidavit authorizing the PNP Finance Service to deduct the amount of P200 from his paycheck as monthly support for his daughter.

However, on Sept. 5 last year, the teenage April sought the intervention of the Complaint Investigation and Prosecution Office (CIPO) of the IAS for the increase of her monthly support to P1,500, citing the rising cost of education and her daily needs.

But despite repeated pleas and demands for increased financial support, Tulang reportedly refused to comply. Because of this, April said that she was on the verge of dropping out of school.

In his decision dismissing Tulang, Canonizado pointed out that the police organization "is governed by a Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards envisioned to achieve and maintain highly professional, honest and competent law enforcers worthy of public respect and trust."

He stressed that all PNP members should adhere to a high standard of morality and decency and set a good example.

"With his meager salary, a PNP member should live a modest life, and avoid the creation of additional burdens on himself," said Canonizado.

Tulang’s act of begetting a child out of wedlock and thereafter abandoning her in misery is conduct that is "highly reprehensible," he added.

Citing the evidence on hand, Canonizado dismissed Tulang for conduct "unbecoming of a police officer."

The STAR tried but failed to get Tulang’s side yesterday. Policemen who answered the phone gave conflicting schedules of his assignments.