TACLOBAN CITY— About 44 police officers from the region were dismissed from service as of this month.
The dismissed police officers, whose names and ranks were not divulged, committed various violations, said Chief Inspector Ma. Bella Rentuaya, police regional information officer.
The dismissal of these policemen was the result of the investigation conducted by the RIAS (Regional Internal Affairs Service).
Rentuaya said that these policemen were discharged from service for committing offenses ranging from absent without leave(AWOL); accepting or soliciting gifts or favors; dereliction of duty; illegal possession of firearms and direct assault against an agent of the government, among others.
Two of the dismissed policemen were involved in adultery cases, the police regional information officer added.
“The dismissal of these police officers is part of the internal cleansing of the organization,” Rentuaya said.
Earlier, Police National Director Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa vowed to dismiss rogue members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) after it was discovered that some of them are engaging in illegal activities like kidnapping.
Several police officers were accused to be behind in the abduction and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo which prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to stop the controversial “Operation: Tokhang,” his government’s campaign on illegal drugs.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
