Manila: The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has dismissed a viral cop who criticized top officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for their alleged involvement in the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
According to Philippines News Agency, during the deliberations on Wednesday, the Napolcom en banc found Patrolman Francis Steve Fontillas guilty of grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a police officer, and disloyalty to the government. The commission also perpetually disqualified Fontillas from returning to public service.
Duterte was taken into custody by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on March 11, following an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) against him. The former president was flown to The Hague and is now awaiting trial for crimes against humanity, specifically regarding the killings that occurred during his administration's war on illegal drugs.
Fontillas also criticized the ICC and Interpol but resigned on April 10 after his tirades against Duterte's arrest went viral. Napolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer (VCEO) Rafael Vicente Calinisan stated that Fontillas' resignation won't free him from administrative and criminal charges.
Calinisan emphasized, "Since Fontillas was already formally charged in the Napolcom before his resignation, the Napolcom already acquired jurisdiction over his person. Thus, no matter what Fontillas claims, he cannot conveniently escape liability through resignation, and was thus made liable, as he should be."
He added that while the commission wanted to be considerate given Fontillas' condition, the paramount interest of the Filipino people was at stake. Calinisan asserted that Napolcom "will go hard against rogue cops who would tarnish the uniform and erode the public trust."
Meanwhile, Northern Police District (NPD) Director Brig. Gen. Josefino Ligan reported that three Valenzuela City Police Station members were arrested for extorting money from a resident. The complainant reported that the officers demanded PHP100,000 in exchange for not filing a fabricated case against her housemaid, whom they accused of theft.
Under pressure, the complainant had already handed over PHP5,000 and issued a post-dated check for PHP50,000 before coordinating with authorities to arrange the entrapment. During the operation, police operatives seized two firearms, marked entrapment money, and other personal items that will serve as evidence in the ongoing case against the suspects.
Ligan affirmed that the PNP maintains a zero-tolerance policy against any form of corruption or abuse of authority.