Cop faces probe for abandoning post

CEBU, Philippines — A police officer assigned to Cordova Police Station is now facing an investigation after he was caught abandoning his post on Monday morning.

Police Senior Inspector Ceralde Clemente, chief of Cordova Police, said that the police officer left his post after their station command conference without informing his superior.

Based on the record reflected in the police blotter, the police officer left the station around 10:30 a.m. and returned at about 9 p.m.

“Maghapon lang akong nasa opisina pero hindi siya nagpaalam na aalis siya. Kung may importante man siyang lakad ay maintindihan naman iyun,” Clemente said in a phone interview with The FREEMAN. (I was in the office the whole day but he did not ask permission to leave his post.)

The police officer was recently transferred to Cordova Police Station from Hilotongan Island, according to Clemente.

He said that on Tuesday, he attended a command conference at the Cebu Provincial Police Office.  He called the police station to check if the police officer reported for work.

“Nagkausap kami. Tinanong ko siya kung saan siya pumunta noong araw na iyun pero nagalit siya sa akin. Imbes na humingi siya ng sorry ay tsina-challenge niya ako na ano ba daw gusto ko? Tapos minura pa niya ako,” said Clemente. (We talked.  I asked him where he has been but he got mad. Instead of apologizing, he berated me.)

Clemente said the behavior of the police officer prompted him to reflect the incident in the blotter.

Clemente also said that he will not tolerate his erring men and he hopes that this will serve as lesson to other policemen.

“Paano ma-correct ang isang bagay kung palalagpasin natin. Parti ito ng ating internal cleansing. Kapag mali ay mali,” he said.  (How can we correct it if we do not take action. This is part of our internal cleansing.)

He said he gave the police officer 24 hours to explain his side.

He also said that he already sent a report to CPPO Director Police Senior Superintendent Edgar Alan Okubo about the incident.

On the other hand, Okubo in a phone interview with The FREEMAN, said that he will order the reassignment of the police officer to the Provincial Police Holding Accounting Unit aside from a retraining.

An administrative case will also be filed against the police officer. (FREEMAN)