5 Mangaldan cops, police chief, suspended for lewd show

By August 1, 2010Headlines, News

LINGAYEN–The police station in Mangaldan town, touted as one of the country’s few modern and world-class police buildings, has been despoiled by police officers who set up a lewd show midnight of July 25 for their entertainment.

Five policemen of the Mangaldan Police Station have been relieved from their posts and are now under investigation over the incident.

Chief Superintendent Orlando Mabutas, police regional director, ordered the relief of the five police non-commissioned officers (PNCOs) for allegedly “bringing shame and disgrace to their police station”.

Mabutas also relieved Superintendent Roberto Vocal as chief of the Mangaldan Police for command responsibility although he was not among the spectators of the show.

“I already relieved all those involved,” Mabutas told newsmen. He added “I will include him (Vocal) among those to be relieved for command responsibility.”

Vocal declined to comment on the issue saying he has already filed an affidavit with the provincial investigation branch headed by Superintendent Franklin Candelario.

Candelario said the incident was reported by a concerned citizen of Mangaldan through a text message to PNP textline 2920, which was received directly by the office of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Jesus Verzosa at Camp Crame.

Versoza’s office immediately acted on the report.

A team of policemen sent by Police Provincial Director Percival Barba to investigate the report caught the five police officers watching the show inside their police station.

FURIOUS

Mabutas was furious when he came to Lingayen on July 27, his first command visit to the province since taking over as police regional director early this month.

He said he will not tolerate “scalawags and misfits” under his command, citing as an example the Mangaldan policemen.

Superintendent Harris Fama, deputy police provincial director for operations, told newsmen later that the case of the five NCOs are now under the custody of of the provincial internal affairs service headed by Senior Superintendent Ray Tang.

Tang said the five PNCOs have been given a chance to file their counter-affidavits. These will be evaluated and sent to the police regional office for final determination.

All of them will likely be meted a harsher penalty if the “guest relations officer” whom they invited to dance nude speaks up.

Reports indicate that at least 14 policemen were on duty at the Mangaldan Police Station that evening.

The names of the five are being withheld until after the administrative case against them is decided upon.—LM

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