QCPD chief sacked over abusive cop

QCPD chief sacked over abusive cop | Daily Tribune

The director of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) was relieved of his post Tuesday after failing to immediately report an incident involving a police officer who was caught on video allegedly barging into a residence, berating its occupants and injuring a minor.

Police Brig. Gen. Melecio Buslig Jr. was removed from his position due to command responsibility, the QCPD Public Information Office confirmed.

The decision followed a letter dated 21 April signed by National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Police Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin.

Aberin disclosed that he learned of the Monday morning incident from the QCPD Station 2 commander, the unit to which the accused officer, Police Staff Sgt. Jordan Marzan, belonged.

Aberin said Marzan has been inquested Tuesday for unlawful entry, physical injuries and grave threat.

“He (Buslig) failed to inform me,” Aberin said, stressing the need for immediate reporting of such incidents for prompt action.

Police Col. Randy Glenn Silvio, the QCPD deputy director for administration, has been designated as officer-in-charge. Silvio said Marzan was arrested immediately after the incident and is in custody, facing charges at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.

Administrative charges for conduct unbecoming, grave misconduct, and abuse of authority will also be filed against Marzan.

To recall, a viral video showed Marzan, allegedly intoxicated, forcibly entering a house and berating its tenants, including a minor and an elderly woman, demanding information about a woman he accused of spreading rumors about his alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

“He (Marzan) was not an anti-illegal drug operative. But we are also investigating if he has links with illegal drugs,” Silvio said.

Marzan’s firearm has been confiscated and is set to undergo inquest proceedings for physical injury under the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, as well as for violation of domicile.

Meantime, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rommel Marbil condemned the incident as a “disgraceful betrayal of the people’s trust,” vowing that abusive officers would be arrested, prosecuted, and expelled from the service without exception.

The PNP’s Internal Affairs Service has taken over the administrative case.

In a separate development, the QCPD on Tuesday also announced the relief of the head of its Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) and two other personnel after a detainee was allegedly allowed to leave detention.

Silvio said CIDU chief Police Maj. Don Don Lapitan, a jailer, and a desk officer were relieved after the district director received information that a person under police custody had been released.

An investigation revealed that the female detainee, facing qualified theft charges, was escorted by a police officer to a hotel to meet her family before being returned to the detention facility. Lapitan and the involved officers on duty have been relieved pending further investigation.