One of the cops involved in the Moises Padilla checkpoint in 2017 already retired from the police service before the dismissal order of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) came out.
Former Moises Padilla police chief Captain Allan Reloj, along with five policemen, were found by the NAPOLCOM “culpable for grave misconduct and grave irregularities in the performance of duty” in relation to the arrest of then town vice mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo and her husband, Felix Yulo III, in the December 2017 checkpoint.
The policemen were meted the maximum penalty of dismissal from service, in view of the presence of the aggravating circumstance of being found guilty of two or more charges or counts.
Their retirement benefits will also be forfeited, and that they will be disqualified from holding public office.
Lt. Abegael Donasco, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office information officer, confirmed that Reloj has already retired from police service, while the five other policemen are still performing their duties.
She also said that the Philippine National Police headquarters has yet to issue an order to implement the NAPOLCOM resolution.
Once implemented, the five policemen will be given 15 days to file a motion to reconsider the dismissal order, she added.
The case against the six policemen stemmed from the checkpoint incident in December 2017 that saw the arrest of the Yulo couple for alleged possession of firearms, grenades, and drugs, which was ruled as planted evidence.
The Yulos spent seven months in detention.
Meanwhile, Yulo, along with her family and the municipal government employees, attended a Church-initiated special thanksgiving mass at the Parish of San Isidro Labrador, Wednesday, June 23.*