PNP-IAS: Supt. Nobleza acted improperly when she went to Bohol

The Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service has found the acts of Supt. Maria Cristina Nobleza improper when she went to Bohol together with  suspected Abu Sayyaf member Reenor Lou Dongon.

On Monday, IAS Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo said they have finished their report on Nobleza's case  two weeks ago and they are just waiting for PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa to sign their recommendation and draft decision.

“Improper talaga (ang ginawa niya). Conduct unbecoming talaga siya diyan kasi nakakahiya ‘yung kanyang ginagawa. At saka yung grupo namang ‘yun ay kilala, granting na mister niya, ang proper conduct ay hindi siya pupunta doon,” Triambulo told reporters after the PNP Independence Day celebration.

“Bakit sasama siya doon sa kanyang husband, kung tutuong husband niya iyon, e alam naman natin ang connection ng husband niya. Kung intelligence officer siya e alam niya mismo iyon,” he added.

Triambulo also noted that Nobleza even left her post just to be with Dongon who was allegedly attempting to rescue Abu Sayyaf member Saad.

“Improper dahil nakita n’yo naman kung anong ginagawa niya ... kasi siya ay OIC, umalis siya tapos doon siya napunta sa isang lugar kung saan nandodoon yung kalaban ng ating gobyerno kaya ‘yan improper talaga,” he said.

He added that being in a “wrong place is already enough” to prove the improper act of a police officer.

Nobleza was deputy director of the Davao Regional Police Office's Crime Laboratory when the incident happened and has been relieved of her post since then. 

She and Dongon are presently detained inside Camp Crame.

Asked what their recommendations were, Triambulo refused to directly say but based on a National Police Commission memorandum circular, those found guilty of conduct unbecoming of an officer may face dismissal from service.

“Sa kanya kasi lalabas na that is not the proper conduct of an officer, unbecoming conduct kaya dismissal po ang penalty ayon sa NAPOLCOM memorandum circular. That is a grave and serious administrative offense," he said.

If a police officer is dismissed from service, he or she will no longer be able to receive benefits, salaries, and pensions, and barred from working in the government.

“Kapag ikaw ay madismiss, ikaw ay tanggal sa trabaho; forfeited ang benefits, salary, and pension; forfeited ang eligibility and you are barred from working in the government kahit anong sangay, kahit sa lokal,” he said.

Triambulo said he will personally hand to Dela Rosa their report.

“(Dadalhin ko sa kanya) mahirap kasi pag inilagay mo diyan sa lamesa hindi mo alam baka mawala ang isang record ng aming ebidensiya e magbabago na ang kaso,” he said.

He added that Dela Rosa can approve, disapprove, lower, or increase their recommendation.

“‘Yun ang power of control over ng IAS, ganun iyan reverse, modify, affirm, etc,” he said.

In April, police arrested at a checkpoint Nobleza and Dongon, his mother Judith, and a teenager supposedly to rescue the remaining Abu Sayyaf members who slipped into Bohol province to conduct kidnappings.

Charges of illegal possession of firearms and harboring criminals have been filed against Nobleza.

Crime Laboratory

The Crime Laboratory has been Nobleza’s unit since she entered the PNP in 1996.

She transferred to Task Force Smuggling of the PNP, Anti-Illegal Gambling Special Operations Task Force, and PACER in 2005.

She was appointed as Chief of the Intelligence Operation Division of the Directorate for Intelligence from 2008 to 2011.

In 2012, she returned to the Crime Laboratory and was assigned to the Police Regional Office 5 (Bicol).

She was then transferred to the Intelligence Group, PAOCC, and Office of the chief PNP in 2013.

Nobleza was assigned to the PNP-Anti Illegal Drugs Group in 2016. She was transferred back to the Crime Laboratory in February after the anti-drug unit was abolished.

Dela Rosa said Nobleza, an Islam convert, was married to another member of the PNP, a police attaché assigned in Pakistan. Their marriage has since been annulled. — RSJ, GMA News