CEBU CITY – No one is above the law.
Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia issued this stern warning after two policemen were arrested for separate offenses here.
MAYOR Garcia (center). (Cebu City PIO FB)
Garcia said just like civilians, erring law enforcers must also face the consequences of their actions.
“First of all, nobody is above the law — especially if you’re a police officer or you are in charge of implementing law and order here in the city of Cebu. There should be no whitewashing. If an ordinary civilian can be prosecuted, then all the more should our police officers be held liable,” Garcia said.
Garcia called on the leadership of the Philippine National Police to take proactive steps to police their ranks.
“I am appealing to the police hierarchy — look for those abusing their power for personal gain. If there’s a violation, investigate and file the necessary cases. No one is above the law,” he said.
He issued the warning after a police officer assigned to the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) was arrested in Barangay Sapangdaku on April 7.
Police Corporal Ivan Labra was allegedly drunk when he assaulted and pointed a gun at a resident.
Labra was later arrested and disarmed. He was charged with grave threat and physical injuries.
On April 6, Police Staff Sgt. Niesel Arizo Pescante, who was assigned to the MCPO Station 6, was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Mambaling.
Packs of suspected shabu valued at P408,000 were recovered from Pescante.
Police Col. Arvie Aserre Paraon-Bueno, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO-7), said police officers undergo values formation training.
“Values formation is still part of police training. But regrettably, values cannot be forced. You can teach them, but if the individual doesn’t accept or live by them, it becomes difficult,” Bueno said during the MyTVCebu Open Line News Forum on Tuesday, April 8.
Bueno said the arrest of the two policemen were isolated incidents, emphasizing that the majority of police personnel are law-abiding members of the organization.
“Although we are hearing this news, what’s good about this is that these are isolated cases but we really hope we strive to have perfect PNP,” Bueno said.