PNP chides Asingan MIO for violation of protocol
POSTING OF LOLO NARDING’S MUGSHOT
THE municipal information officer of Asingan town took full responsibility and apologized for breaching protocol when he posted the mugshot of Leonardo “Lolo Narding” Flores, 80, and the incident report that led to his arrest on orders of the Municipal Trial Court of Asingan-San Manuel for stealing 10 crates of mangoes from his neighbor’s tree in Barangay Bantog.
This was reported by P/Colonel Richmond Tadina, police provincial director, to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan during the Question Hour on January 31, and denied the town police had a hand in uploading Lolo Narding’s mugshot shortly after he was arrested on January 14, 2022 on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by the court.
Tadina said Rommel Aguilar, MIO of Asingan town was at the Asingan Police Station to inquire about the accomplishments of the police when he became curious about the presence of Lolo Narding in the police station.
After Aguilar saw the mugshot of Lolo Narding and read the incident report on the table of the investigator, he took pictures of the two materials with his smart phone without the knowledge of the investigator.
Then he decided to post the mugshot and the report on the old man’s arrest on the official Facebook page of the Asingan government without clearance from the police station.
Despite Aguilar’s admission that he alone should be blamed for the breach of protocol, Tadina said P/Brig. General Emmanuel Peralta, police regional director, directed the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office to investigate further how the mugshot and the incident report got into the hands of a civilian.
Tadina explained that the police have a protocol on the presentation of suspects to the media to ensure a balance between protection of a person’s right to presumption of innocence, and right of the public to be informed.
He said an exception is permitted if the accused is a repeat offender and the public has the right to be informed and be warned .
Tadina assured the board members that all police stations will be made fully aware about the protocol. (Leonardo Micua)
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