The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has dismissed a cop from the police force and imposed on him the penalty of perpetual disqualification from public service after he publicly criticized top police officials following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Napolcom Vice Chairman and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente R. Calinisan said the commission, sitting en banc, found Patrolman Steve T. Fontillas guilty of Grave Misconduct and Conduct Unbecoming of a Police Officer, and Disloyalty to the Government.
Aside from the dismissal from the service, Napolcom also punished him with the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from public service.
Fontillas’ charges stemmed from his viral Facebook posts criticizing the Philippine National Police (PNP) and its top officers, particularly Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil and Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, for their hand in the arrest of Duterte.
Duterte was taken into custody on March 11 under an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for crimes against humanity related to thousands of deaths during his administration’s drug war.
Fontillas’ social media posts did not sit well with the PNP amid the existing rules and regulations that govern the social media use of its personnel, as well as reminders of being apolitical.
A member of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), Fontillas was summoned by the PNP to explain as part of the investigation for administrative charges.
Although he resigned while his case was being heard, the Napolcom proceeded with its ruling.
“Fontillas’ resignation did not stay in the administrative and criminal cases filed against him. Since Fontillas was already formally charged in the Napolcom before his resignation, the Napolcom already acquired jurisdiction over his person,” said Calinisan.
“Thus, no matter what Fontillas claims, he cannot conveniently escape liability through resignation, and was thus made liable, as he should be,” he stressed.
With the midterm elections approaching, Calinisan warned law enforcement personnel against engaging in political activity.
“Again, strictly no politics in the uniformed service,” he added. (Aaron Recuenco)
