The chief of the Koronadal City Police Station has been relieved from his post after a video of him and his subordinates apparently drinking and gambling inside their headquarters went viral in social media.
Police Lt. Col. Benjiel Kirby Bajo, chief of the Korodanal police, was ordered relieved by Police Brig. Gen. Eliseo Tam Rasco, director of the Philippine National Police Regional Office 12, effective Thursday.
Bajo and several of his subordinates were caught in a video while supposedly drinking liquor and gambling inside their headquarters. The video immediately went viral after it was leaked in social media.
The other PNP personnel who were with Bajo have also been subjected to an investigation, according to Rasco.
Rasco warned all the personnel of the PRO-12 not to engage in any illegal activity “as this only dishonor the PNP organization and results to a loss of respect to police service.”
“Most often than not, every time there are issues like what had happened in Koronadal City Police Station, the public will not only discredit the involved personnel but the entire PNP organization of the misconduct exhibited by a few,” Rasco said.
Bajo and his subordinates who will be proven to have drunk and gambled inside their station may face an administrative charge for grave misconduct which is punishable by either dismissal, demotion, or suspension from the service, he added.
Bajo admitted that he committed a mistake when he allowed his men to drink and gamble. He claimed he only did it because he wouldn’t want them to go outside and leave their posts to have a happy hour.
“May kaunting pagkakamali ako doon kasi ginather ko ang tropa at nagpa-happy hour ako. Hindi ko na kasi sila pinalabas ng istasyon,” he said. “Siguro hindi naman talaga sugal ‘yon. Nagpapa-tong lang para may katuwaan sila at pampatay ng oras,” he added. (Martin Sadongdong)
