FB  POSTING A VIOLATION OF PROTOCOL?

AFTER posting bail for an octogenarian from Asingan town who was accused of theft for harvesting 10 crates of mangoes from a tree in his neighbor’s backyard, the Asingan police was taken to task by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for allegedly committing lapses in procedures when the it uploaded mugshot of the accused in social media.

Second District Board Member Von Mark Mendoza said the Asingan police violated standard procedures when they uploaded the mugshot of 83-year old Leonardo “Narding” Flores of Barangay Bantog, Asingan, whom the police arrested when they served the warrant issued by the municipal trial court of Asingan-San Manuel.

“What is lamentable—and that caught my attention—is that mugshots of the octogenarian (referring to Flores) was uploaded by the Asingan police in the social media,” said Mendoza.

He said that there is an existing PNP circular that does not allow the uploading of mugshots of an accused of whatever crimes because of the principle that an accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court.

Although he did not condemn the Asingan police for uploading Lolo Narding’s mugshot, Mendoza intended to file a resolution calling on P/Colonel Richmond Tadina, police provincial director, to remind his personnel not to post mugshots of any person accused of crimes in in social media.

Mendoza, however, agreed to defer action of his resolution after Sixth District Board Member Noel Bince proposed the holding of a Question Hour in next regular session for the SP to get a clarification whether a breach to the PNP circular was committed by the Asingan police for uploading Lolo Narding’s mugshot on Facebook.

Bince said the SP can ask Col. Tadina to clarify what authority or right they (Asingan police) had to upload the mugshot of ‘Lolo Narding’. (Leonardo Micua)

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