Newsclip: EPD’s top cop relieved for hitting policewoman

By: Dexter Cabalza, Jeannette I. Andrade - @inquirerdotnet Philippine Daily Inquirer

/ 05:16 AM June 21, 2019

More than three months after his appointment, the highest ranking official of the
Eastern Police District (EPD) has been temporarily relieved for hitting and hurling
verbal abuse at a policewoman.

In a statement on Wednesday night, Police Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, the

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, called the behavior of
Police Brig. Gen. Christopher Tambungan, the EPD chief, “unjustified and
completely unbecoming of an officer of the [Philippine National Police].”

In a complaint, Police Cpl. April Santiago, a member of the San Juan Police
Community Precinct 1 in Greenhills, said that around 7 p.m. on May 12, Tambungan
got mad at her “because she couldn’t help him in a task given to her.”

Lost his cool

The EPD has jurisdiction over policemen in the cities of Mandaluyong, Pasig, San
Juan and Marikina.

According to Santiago, Tambungan lost his cool after she failed to provide him with
another police vehicle to use for an event. At that time, most of the police cars had
already been deployed in connection with the midterm elections the following day.

Eleazar said that Tambungan was in a police vehicle and talking to the policewoman
outside the station when “for no justifiable reason at all … [he] physically assaulted
[Santiago], hitting her on the head and later swinging his car door to hit her while
hurling verbal abuse at her.”

Caught on camera

The incident was caught on video by the precinct’s closed-circuit television camera.

Eleazar said he learned of the incident only on Tuesday because Santiago had
hesitated to file a complaint for fear that “she might be the one to get reprimanded.”

“I [conducted] a partial investigation of the matter and based on this, I have come to
believe [her] allegations. The physical actuations of [Tambungan], including his
alleged verbal abuse [of] his victim are unjustified and completely unbecoming of an
officer,” he added.

At the sidelines of an arms expo in Mandaluyong City on Thursday, Police Gen.

Oscar Albayalde, the PNP chief, said that Tambungan was only relieved
administratively to pave the way for an impartial investigation.
“But if we find solid evidence to charge him, then his relief will be permanent,” he
stressed, adding that two other people had filed complaints in the Office of the
Ombudsman, accusing Tambungan of manhandling them.

“Apparently, [Santiago’s case is] not the only incident. I learned that there are two
other complaints against [Tambungan] in the Ombudsman where the same thing
happened. He wasn’t able to control his anger and manhandled the two,” Albayalde
said although he did not give additional details.

While clarifying that all the complaints were still under investigation, the PNP chief
stressed that “we cannot just hurt police personnel, men or women. There are
several ways to act if an officer commits an offense. We can charge them
administratively. We don’t have to manhandle them.”

Strict, disciplinarian

He added that Tambungan had a reputation for being a “very strict person” and a
disciplinarian as the former director of the Olongapo City police and Manila Police
District.

Albayalde said that Tambungan’s penalty would depend on the gravity of his offense
and the PNP Internal Affairs Service hearing officer’s appreciation of the case.

The EPD chief is set to retire in December.

Eleazar, meanwhile, called on the policewoman to file a complaint against

Tambungan as he assured her that PNP lawyers would help her.

“Being a commander is not a ticket to abuse or humiliate your men and women. That
is not leadership but simply bullying,” he said.

Warning to other officers

“Let this be a warning to all police officials, even if you’re a police general. Just like
your lower ranked police officers, you get the axe if it is proven that you’ve
committed a wrongdoing,” Eleazar added.

Following his administrative relief, Tambungan was transferred to the NCRPO

director’s office on Wednesday.

“Whether or not he returns to his post will depend on the results of the investigation.
But from the evidence we have, he can’t be off the hook,” Eleazar said.

Police Col. Florendo Quibuyen, the EPD’s deputy director for administration, was
appointed officer in charge.

Tambungan became EPD director on March 7, succeeding Police Brig. Gen.

Bernabe Balba, who was relieved after members of the police district’s antidrugs unit
were arrested for robbery-extortion. —WITH A REPORT FROM AIZAM UMAL
RANK/NAME: JLT JAYRONE P. MABBORANG

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EPD’s top cop relieved for hitting policewoman

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer (June 21,2019)

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