Police Captain Eric Doronilla, former deputy Operations branch chief of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, is the new chief of the EB Magalona Police Station.
Doronilla replaced P/Lt. John Paul Tabujara on May 15, who was relieved when some of his men were caught sleeping and not in their posts by Napolcom Region 6 director, Atty. Joseph Celis, who made a surprise inspection Friday night.
Despite his relief, Tabujara thanked EB Magalona Mayor Marvin Malacon, the municipal officials, and the police force for their support during his stint as OIC of the town police station.
P/Lt. Abegael Donasco, deputy spokesperson of the NOCPPO, said Tabujara will be temporarily assigned at the Provincial Holding and Accounting Unit, pending an investigation.
Donasco added that the policemen on duty are also being investigated.
Celis posted on his social media account a narrative of the dismal sight that greeted him when he visited the EB Magalona Police Station.
“Arrived at EB Magalona Police Station, Negros Occidental at 11:03 p.m. There is no Desk Officer and Sentinel. It took five minutes for one policeman to wake up. The other three are still fast asleep. Literally, they are not performing their duties. There is no Official Duty Detail Order issued”, Celis posted on his Facebook page.
He also noted the less than impressive state of the station and the stinky smell.
“The smell of the station is stinky with pee and the premises dirty. Moreover, the old serviceable police vehicle blocks the other passageway and the gates are just open”, he said.
After 15 minutes of waiting, Celis said the police officers in the station finally woke up and changed to their uniforms.
He noted that the police chief and his deputy “were nowhere to be found”.
Malacon said the concerned policemen should face whatever sanctions will be imposed by the PNP hierarchy. He added that the municipal government has been extending its all-out support to them.
“What had happened was a lesson, not only to the PNP, but to all of us. We’re given our mandate and we have to perform our obligations,” Malacon said.
He added that the problem is not with the organization, but with some PNP personnel. Malacon stressed the need to discipline them.
Meanwhile, Celis said that he did not find any problem with the city police stations of Silay and Talisay that he also visited after stopping by at the EB Magalona Police Station.
The sentinel and desk officers were performing their duties, including police chiefs Lt. Col. Robert Petate and Maj. Jigger Gimeno, he said.
Petate rendered duty for three months straight at the Silay City PS, where he had been staying, Celis said.
He also noted that the city police stations of Victorias, Sagay, and Cadiz, and the Manapla MPS have been doing good. — GB
