Suing policemen at the town or city’s PLEB

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

My source at the police told me that starting January 27, the new Police Regional Office-1 (PRO-1) chief would be Chief Supt. Edgar Orduna Basbas, a son of an Army enlisted man and former chief of police of Dagupan City.

As of press time, some political spectators have bated breath if the designation of Basbas by Director General Allan Purisima, chief of the Philippine National Police, could no longer be scuttled by Secretary Mar Roxas of the Department of Interior & Local Government  as what previously happened in Region 1 and its provinces.

The vote rich Region 1 is considered as a sensitive police post since it is part of the positioning of Roxas for his presidential ambition in 2016 presidential election.
(The spectators "fear" , son of a gun, happened.My source this afternoon informed me that after all the practice for the parade, and financial expenses for the turn-over ceremony schedules tomorrow (January 30) between Basbas and the acting PRO-1 top honcho has indeed  been scuttled. Hindi na basbasan si Basbas ng mga Diyos sa Malacanang! - MCO)

PR0-1 for months has been deprived of a full-time star-ranked regional director.

 The top regional police office has been under the hold-over watch of the able Colonel Moro Virgilio Lazo after former PRO-1 chief  General Ricardo Marquez was plucked as acting director for operation at the national police office in Manila

Weeks after Marquez reassignment, rumors permeated the air that Chief Supt. Wendy Rosario, Marquez classmate or mistah at PMA ’82, succeeds him at PRO-1.

But according to my source, former PNP chief General Art Lomibao blocked his appointment by calling those powers-that-be telling them about his gripes in the past against Rosario.

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Lately, members of the PNP from the regional and provincial police offices swooped down on 23 suspected illegal gambling bet collectors in Uminggan, Pangasinan. 
Scuttlebutt said that some enterprising retired and active PNP officials protect the operation of the illegal activity there.

But a source told me this could not happened.

“Hindi mo pueding banga-in si Atong Ang. Nobody can operate jueteng bukis that compete with his Meridien's Jai Alai".

He said the National Bureau of Investigation is under the beck and call of Ang to raid the den of the bukis and arrest its cabo, cobradores, and others who are involved with it. He stressed with Ang’s influence with the NBI, it could make any members of the police look bad incase they dip their fingers on this malfeasance.

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Barangay Chairman Godfrey Carbonel of Talogtog, Mangaldan has been endorsed by various sectors in the famous tapa (dry meat) town as representative of the Liga ng mga Barangay (League of Barangays) for the People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) as the village chief who used to represent the League passed away.

“Mayor Bonafe de Vera-Parayno should appoint Kapitan Godo for the PLEB since he is the most qualified from the Liga. He is a Bachelor of Laws graduate, a perceptive member of the media that could bring PLEB- Mangaldan to places.

Oh, did I mention PLEB as a powerful entity that unscrupulous policemen should be trembling?

According to Republic Act Numbered 6975 otherwise known as the “Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990″that  provided for the creation of PLEB, it said there that it shall have the power to hear and adjudicate all citizen’s complaints formally filed with, or referred to it, against any uniformed member of the PNP, and, if warranted, impose the corresponding penalty.

According to Rule VI of the law the following administrative offenses should be what the citizen of a town or city file against an erring policeman:

a. Neglect of duty; b. Irregularity in the Performance of Duty; c. Misconduct; d. Incompetency; e. Oppression; f. Dishonesty; g. Disloyalty to the Government; and h. Violation of Law

          PLEB’s Rule VII defined the following penalties that may be imposed in police administrative cases:

a.      Withholding of privileges; b. Restriction to specified limits; c. Suspension; d. Forfeiture of salary or fine; e. Demotion;f. Forced Resignation; g. Dismissal.

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As the complaint against the unscrupulous uniformed member of the PNP continues, the complainant can ask for his preventive suspension in the service.

 The following rules should be the PLEB may ask any authorized superior of the bad cop to place under preventive suspension a subordinate police officer who is the subject of a complaint.  In the following cases the superior officer shall not deny a request for preventive suspension:

 a) when the respondent refuses to heed the PLEB’s summons or subpoena; b) when the PNP personnel has been charged with offenses involving bodily harm or grave threats; c) when the respondent is in a position to tamper with the evidence; and d) when the respondent is in a position to unduly influence the witnesses (Section 13).

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 The decision of the PLEB exonerating or reprimanding the respondent in an administrative case is final and executory upon receipt of a copy thereof by the parties, hence unappealable. (B) Where the decision of the PLEB involves the penalty of withholding of privileges, restriction, suspension, forfeiture of salary or fine, demotion, or forced resignation, the same shall become final and executory only after the lapse of ten (10) days from the receipt of a copy thereof by the respondent unless the latter files a motion for reconsideration or appeal within said period (at the Regional Appellate Board) in which case, the resolution on the motion or appeal shall become final and executory only after the lapse of ten (10) days from receipt of a copy of said resolution by the respondent (C) However, where the decision of the PLEB involves the penalty of dismissal, the same shall be immediately executory upon receipt of a copy thereof by the respondent as furnished to him by his/her immediate superior officer.   The filing of a motion for reconsideration or appeal as the case may be, within the reglementary period of ten (10) days shall not suspend the implementation thereof (Section 25).

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With all those nuances of how a complainant files a case and how members of the PLEB treat the case as based on PLEB, Kapitan Godo fits the job as a law graduate.

 By the way the PLEB shall be composed of the following:

a) Any member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod/Bayan chosen by his/her respective sanggunian; b) Any punong-barangay of the city or municipality concerned chosen by the Liga ng mga Barangay; and c) Three (3) other members who are removable only for cause to be chosen by the local peace and order council from among the respected members of the community known for their probity and integrity, one (1) of whom must be a woman and another, a member of the Bar, or in the absence thereof, a college graduate, or, the principal of the central elementary school in the locality.

The Chairman of the PLEB shall be elected from among its members.

(Send comments to totomortz@yahoo.com)