Pro-Duterte cop now facing 5 admin cases aside from sedition
The Quezon City Police District has filed five administrative complaints against one of its police officers who earlier was charged with sedition, following his controversial posts in support of former President Rodrigo Duterte. —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — A police officer-vlogger, who is a supporter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, is now facing five administrative cases aside from sedition, according to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD)
The QCPD had earlier filed a criminal complaint of inciting to sedition against Patrolman Francis Steve Fontillas for his controversial social media posts after Duterte was arrested at the request of the International Criminal Court (ICC) last March 11.
“Aside from the criminal case na kinakaharap ngayon ni Patrolman Fontillas, mayroon na siyang kakaharapin na limang admin cases,” QCPD Director Col. Melecio Buslig Jr., said in a press conference in Camp Karingal on Wednesday.
(Aside from the criminal case that Patrolman Francis Steve Fontillas is facing, he is now facing five admin cases.)
The QCPD director explained that four cases were already referred to the National Police Commission (Napolcom): one for grave misconduct, one for conduct unbecoming of a police officer, and two for less grave neglect of duty.
The district police chief said the grave misconduct case stemmed from “any act that constitutes a crime punishable under the Revised Penal Code.”
Additionally, the QCPD said the case for conduct unbecoming of a police officer stemmed from “any act [that] seriously compromises his character and standing in the PNP.”
Further, according to the QCPD, the two cases of less grave neglect of duty stemmed from “[failure] to comply with any lawful order or instruction of a superior office” and “willful” violation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) guidelines in social media use.
Meanwhile, a fifth administrative case also for less grave neglect of duty was referred to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
The fifth case was for Fontillas’ absence without the necessary approval.
READ: Cop under probe for social media posts on Duterte’s ICC arrest
AWOL and possible summary dismissal proceedings
Buslig said Fontillas had been considered absent without official leave (AWOL) since March 6.
This is despite Fontillas claiming in another Facebook post that he was on a leave of absence.
“Si Fontillas applied for leave March 6 to March 19. However, yung pinapakita niya doon (referring to the Facebook post) is wala yung approved or disapproved,” Buslig said.
(Fontillas applied for a leave from March 6 to March 19. However, he did not show in his Facebook post whether it was approved or disapproved.)
“His leave was not processed because of lacking requirements, so it is being disapproved. Kaya effective March 6, hindi na siya pumapasok, so we filed AWOL sa kanya (So effective March 6, he was no longer reporting for duty, so we had him filed as AWOL),” Buslig added.
Fontillas may face summary dismissal proceedings if he remains AWOL by April 5 or 30 days after his initial absence on March 6, according to QCPD Personnel and Records Management chief Lt. Col. Richard Mepania.
Sedition complaint
The QCPD on Monday announced that it filed the sedition complaint against Fontillas in connection with the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
In a now-deleted post originally uploaded on March 11, Fontillas said, “To ICC and Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization), don’t even lay your finger on our Tatay Digong or else we will start the war that you can’t even imagine. This is not a warning; this is a threat!”
Further, Fontillas responded to another social media user’s comment, saying “We don’t need to resign, sir. We can use our power to overthrow the government kung may (if there’s) enough grounds to overthrow.”
READ: Cop faces sedition rap for social media posts on Duterte’s arrest
Both the QCPD and the Philippine National Police (PNP) previously reiterated the law enforcement agency’s “non-partisan” stance.
This was amid the online uproar from Duterte supporters, including social media users claiming to be police and military personnel, condemning the former president’s ICC arrest.
“Despite these clear guidelines, an investigation confirmed that Patrolman Francis Steve Tallion Fontillas was responsible for social media pages that incited unrest and hurtful action against the government,” Buslig said during the press conference.
“Some of his posts were made while he was in police uniform, an outright violation of PNP regulations,” the QCPD director added.
However, in a text exchange with INQUIRER.net on Tuesday, Fontillas maintained that he was only exercising his right to free speech.
