A police officer who grabbed headlines after expressing pro-Duterte sentiments and criticizing his superiors at the Philippine National Police (PNP) changed his tune and was remorseful when he reported back to duty.
Patrolman Francis Steve Fontillas appeared before the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on Thursday, March 20, and was “crying and extremely apologetic”, according to NAPOLCOM commissioner Rafael Vicente R. Calinisan.
“Fontillas also promised not to post seditious comments and hate speech on his social media pages,” Calinisan said on Friday, March 21.
Calinisan said Fontillas was placed under restrictive custody after reporting for duty. The Napolcom said it will pursue the administrative and criminal charges filed against Fontillas.
On his Facebook page, the viral cop posted his appreciation for the PNP for giving him a second chance.
“Sa kabila ng paggimbal ko sa organisasyon at sa gobyerno, pinatawad pa rin ako ng Philippine National Police. Isa pa rin akong pulis ng Pilipinas (Despite shocking the organization and the government, the Philippine National Police still forgave me. I am still a police officer of the Philippines),” he said.
“Maraming maraming salamat po sa Panginoon. Maraming maraming salamat po sa buong pamunuan ng PNP, lalong-lalo na sa Quezon City Police District, na nakinig at naunawaan ang mga saloobin at hinaing ko at sobrang gaan na ng loob ko. Sobrang babait po ninyo mga ma'am/sir! Wala po akong masabi sa kabaitan niyo! Muli, maraming maraming salamat po! Mula sa puso! (Thank you very much to the Lord. Thank you very much to the entire leadership of the PNP, especially to the Quezon City Police District, who listened to me and understood my sentiments and grievances, I felt so relieved. You are all so kind ma’am/sir! I am speechless for your kindness. Again, thank you very much! From the bottom of my heart),” he added.
Fontillas, it turns out, has been absent without official leave (AWOL) since March 6. He was assigned at the QCPD’s District Personnel and Holding Admin Section (DPHAS) since Feb. 20.
Last March 17, the QCPD filed charges for violating Article 142 (Inciting to Sedition) of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012) against Fontillas for his controversial social media posts against the PNP and the Marcos administration.
He was also slapped with administrative cases for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.
Fontillas has been criticizing the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), particularly its head, Major Gen. Nicolas Torre III, for arresting former president Rodrigo Duterte last March 11 on the strength of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the latter’s war on drugs.