CLEANUP. Personnel of E.B. Magalona Municipal Police Station in Negros Occidental sweep the surroundings of their headquarters on Saturday (May 15, 2021). On Friday night, National Police Commission-Western Visayas regional director Joseph Celis reported that during his inspection, he found the station personnel sleeping and the headquarters with an unpleasant odor. (Photo courtesy of E.B. Magalona MPS)
BACOLOD CITY – The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) has launched an investigation into the personnel of E.B. Magalona Municipal Police Station (MPS) who were found sleeping on the job and also failed to maintain the cleanliness of their workplace.
The probe was ordered by Col. Romy Palgue, police provincial director, after National Police Commission-Western Visayas regional director Joseph Celis reported his findings during an inspection at the station before midnight on Friday.
Lt. Abegael Donasco, deputy public information officer, on Sunday said the incident can be considered an isolated case since the other police stations checked by Celis performed well.
“All chiefs of police have been directed by the provincial director to make sure that this will not happen again. This is isolated and does not mean that all police stations in Negros Occidental are the same,” she added.
In a Facebook post, Celis said that when he arrived at the E.B. Magalona MPS headquarters at 11:03 p.m. on Friday, he found that the station had “no desk officer and sentinel”.
He said “it took five minutes for one policeman to wake up” while “the other three are still fast asleep”.
“Literally, they are not performing their duties. The smell of the station is stingy with pee,” Celis further observed.
On Saturday, Palgue ordered the relief of station chief Lt. John Tabujara, who has been re-assigned to the NOCPPO Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit.
Capt. Eric Doronilla took over his post and was directed by Palgue to correct the lapses mentioned in the findings of Celis.
Donasco said the chiefs of police in Negros Occidental have already been directed to adhere to mandate of Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar’s “intensified cleanliness policy.”
“They make sure that their stations are clean and orderly, and should reflect dignity befitting of the police organization,” she added. (PNA)
