A policeman on AWOL (absent without official leave) was arrested Monday by the intelligence operatives of the Eastern Police District (EPD) in Pasig City for his failure to turnover his service firearm.
EPD director Chief Supt. Christopher Tambungan said PO3 Fernando Usita, previously detailed at EPD headquarters in Pasig City, was apprehended by members of EPD Intelligence Unit while processing his papers for his reinstatement around 12:45 p.m. by virtue of an arrest warrant.
Judge Rolando de Guzman of Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 72 in Pasig City issued the arrest warrant against Usita for malversation of government property due to failure to surrender his service firearm on Nov. 5, 2018. The court recommended a bail of P36,000.
“Usita was AWOL since May 2018,” Tambungan said. “He was AWOL due to personal reason.”
When asked why Usita did not return his firearm, Tambungan said: “Hindi niya daw alam kung saan niya isasauli.”
“Isang malaking kalukuhan yan. Ang tagal-tagal niya na sa serbisyo. PO3 na nga ‘yan eh,”Tambungan said, adding that Usita served for more or less 10 years.
“Aside from administrative case for his absence without official leave, the EPD filed a criminal case, the malversation of government property, against Usita,” the EPD chief said.
Usita is now confined at Pasig City Police detention cell.
Meanwhile, in a follow-up operation that same day, his service firearm — a 9mm Glock 17 pistol — was recovered at the cop’s house in Barangay Pinuhay, Baras town, Rizal Province.
“We will subject his gun for ballistic and cross examination,” Tambungan said. (Jhon Aldrin Casinas)
