MANILA, Philippines – Everybody has the right to rest the mind and body but not while on duty.
Two Quezon City police officers were sacked while eight others assigned in Caloocan City were reprimanded after they were found sleeping while they were at work.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Regional Director Oscar Albayalde and his team conducted a random/surprise inspection early morning of February 9 and found out that the policemen had fallen asleep while supposedly on regular work at the Police Community Precinct-1 of Anonas Police Station in Quezon City and at the Caloocan Police Station Annex.
Relieved were police officers 2 Roland Tiburcio and Atoz Robinson Monroyo.
Albayalde said the eight Caloocan policemen, all members of the city’s Special Reaction Unit,”will be investigated by the NCRPO Oversight Committee for their lapses and negligence of duty.”
Also, the NCRPO chief ordered Metro Manila police’s Regional Investigation Management Division “to hasten the investigation and impose immediately disciplinary sanctions and corrective measures to these policemen.”
Any administrative case filed against a police officer would mean forfeiture of his mid-year and year-end bonus, replacement clothing allowance, and grounds for non-promotion, according to Albayalde.
He stressed the “importance of being alert and awake of policemen during night time as it is the time in which lawless elements and criminals might take advantage.”
Albayalde likewise reminded policemen “that being alert during tour of duty is part of the police’s operational readiness.”
“We are paid to provide security. With the full support from the government, we have no reason not to perform our duty well,” he said.
