49 BAMBAN COPS RELIEVED FROM POSTS

admin June 5, 2024

FORTY-NINE officers and men of the Bamban Municipal Police Station in Tarlac on Monday were relieved from their posts in the wake of the ongoing investigation into a March 13 raid on a POGO compound located at the back of the municipal hall.

The 49 were replaced by a same number of policemen from the Police Regional Office 3.

Philippine National Police spokesperson Col. Jean S. Fajardo said of the 49, two commissioned officers were replaced temporarily by members of the 1st and 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Companies of the Tarlac Police Provincial Office, the Tarlac City Police Station and the Concepcion and Capas Municipal Police Stations.

Fajardo said the 49 relieved Bamban policemen were transferred to the PRO3 Regional Personnel Holding Unit and were ordered to undergo a Focused Reformation/Reorientation and Moral Enhancement or FORM program in Subic.

PRO3 director Brig. Gen. Jose S. Hidalgo Jr. led the ceremonies at the Bamban MPS on Monday and made the 49 understand that they were relieved to pave the way for the ongoing investigation into the POGO raid.

The Bamban police chief was previously relieved in the aftermath of the POGO raid conducted by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission headed by its Executive Director Gilbert DC Cruz.

According to Fajardo, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco D. Marbil had made it clear “they won’t be unforgiving” when it comes to policemen involved in irregularities in the performance of duty.

The official cited a number of police officers and men sacked from their posts after being found to be engaged in illegal activities.

“We have a fine reward and punishment program. But in this case, the Bamban policemen were relieved to give way to the investigation to determine their possible liability, their neglect of duty in failing to monitor illegal activities taking place in their area,” said the PNP spokesperson.

Fajardo also mentioned “familiarity” in the area, particularly the cops’ association with embattled Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, is also one of the reasons behind the relief.

Mayor Guo was earlier placed under a six-month preventive suspension without pay by the Office of the Ombudsman amid her suspected ties to an alleged illegal POGO operator in the town.