CEBU CITY – Two “coward” and “unprofessional” policemen are facing dismissal from service.
Cousins PO1 Melvin Canete and PO1 Tomas Canete are facing charges for cowardice and dishonesty after they did not participate in the police’s “One-Time, Big-Time” operation in Negros Oriental on New Year’s Eve.
“They chickened out during the operation. They are cowards and unprofessional. It’s unfortunate that there are still unprofessionals in our ranks,” said Chief Supt. Debold Sinas, director of the Philippine National Police Regional Office 7 (Central Visayas).
Sinas said the offenses committed by the two operatives of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion are grounds for dismissal.
“They have been disarmed and relieved from their posts,” said Sinas.
Sinas explained that the Canetes disappeared when the police were about to conduct the simultaneous police operations in Negros Oriental.
“When gunfire erupted, they ran and we couldn’t find them anymore. The whole team tried to find them and I was disappointed because I thought we had casualties,” said Sinas.
Sinas said the two police officers had several reasons for their disappearance when they finally showed up.
“They said they got lost, they fell into a river, they fell into the sea. They had lot of reasons. We will investigate this to find out what really happened,” said Sinas.
During the simultaneous police operations, six persons were killed after they allegedly resisted while 24 were arrested.
Police said the suspects possessed unlicensed firearms and were suspected to be members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army. (Calvin D. Cordova)