PNP exec caught in shabu session dismissed from service

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa has ordered the dismissal from service of a police official caught in the act of using shabu in March.

In an order signed by Dela Rosa on September 1, Supt. Lito Cabamongan was found guilty of conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

“The use of prohibited drugs by the respondent violated the norms of conduct for public service. By indulging in the use of illegal drugs, the respondent committed conduct unbecoming of a PNP personnel,” it stated.

The order also cited Civil Service Commission memorandum circular 13 which says that any official or employee found positive for use of dangerous drugs shall be subjected to disciplinary or administrative proceedings with a penalty of dismissal from the service.

It further stated that the image of PNP depended on the conduct of its personnel, thus the behavior of people serving the PNP must at all times be characterized by propriety and decorum.

“This Office (of the PNP chief) would never countenance any conduct, act, or omission on the part of all those in the enforcement of law which will violate the norm of public accountability and diminish or even just tend to diminish the faith of the people in the PNP service,” the order said.

Internal Affairs Service Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo said the PNP chief adopted their recommendation.

"Yup (in-adopt niya) kasi order niya e i-fast track ang case ni Supt. Cabamongan para ma-dismiss from the service agad and mga pulis scalawags," he said in a text message to GMA News Online.

Cabamongan was the head of PNP Crime Lab Alabang Satellite Office when he was arrested while having a shabu session with a woman in Las Piñas.

He was the highest ranking police official nabbed for illegal drugs and has been the subject of several complaints from his colleagues and even a mall.

He also tested positive for use of illegal drugs.

A neuro-psychiatric test conducted on him also showed that he is suffering from psychosis due to substance abuse.

Chief Supt. Aurelio Trampe, PNP Crime Laboratory director, earlier said the result of the neuro-psychiatric test would have a strong effect on the case against Cabamongan.

“He’s psychologically unfit e. That’s a mandatory requirement sa police. (Despite the result) dadaan pa ito sa IAS. We just have to follow the administrative procedure pero mahihirapan na siya (lusutan ito),” he told reporters in an earlier interview.

The PNP-Internal Affairs Office finished its motu propio probe on Cabamongan in June and submitted the same to the PNP chief. —JST, GMA News