ILOILO CITY – The National Police Commission said two former police officers were culpable of conduct unbecoming when they verbally attacked Iloilo fourth district Rep. Ferj Biron and the Ombudsman during a press conference in 2022.
FORMER police officers Charlie Sustento Jr. (left) and Jonathan Pinuela are candidates for congressman and provincial board member of the fourth district of Iloilo. (Tara Yap)
While both left the police force as captain and colonel respectively, the Napolcom emphasized the culpability of Charlie Sustento Jr. and Jonathan Pinuela who are now candidates in the May elections.
In an order recently obtained by the Manila Bulletin, the Napolcom noted that Sustento and Pinuela negatively impacted the image of the Philippine National Police (PNP) as an “organization that tolerates ill-mannered behavior.”
The Napolcom order stemmed from the January press conference where the two policemen accused Biron of harassment and the Ombudsman of being corrupt.
Susento and Pinuela blamed Biron for negatively affecting when they were penalized by the Ombudsman for cases filed by the congressman.
In a press conference aired live by a radio station, Sustento uttered a profanity phrase several times. By hurling profane statements and imputing malice, they failed to conduct themselves properly, the Napolcom said.
The Napolcom noted that Sustento and Pinuela should have taken their grievances via lawful avenues instead of making unfounded allegations in a press conference.
The Ombudsman dismissed Sustento from the PNP in October 2017 when he was found guilty of grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming when he allegedly pointed a gun to a civilian during a checkpoint. Sustento was later reinstated but the press conference gave him another legal battle.
Pinuela was suspended by the Ombudsman in 2022 after he was guilty of grave threats and grave coercion.
Sustento was demoted to the rank of police captain from police major.
When Pinuela opted for early retirement due to the Ombudsman cases his rank was police colonel.
Sustento and Pinuela are running in the fourth district of Iloilo as congressman and board member, respectively.