Napolcom pushes case聽vs cop聽who threatened ICC, Interpol
TEARFULLY SORRY Acting Quezon City police chief Colonel Melecio Buslig Jr. gave updates about crying Patrolman Francis Steve Fontillas on Wednesday. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — Despite his tearful apologies on social media, the National Police Commission (Napolcom) on Friday said it would press charges against Patrolman Francis Steve Fontillas over “seditious” posts.
Despite his apology, the Napolcom and the Philippine National Police would still pursue the criminal and administrative charges against him.
“He was crying and extremely apologetic. Fontillas also promised not to post seditious comments and hate speech on his social media pages,” Napolcom Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan said in a statement on Friday.
READ: PNP told: Check recruits’ mental fitness after cop’s threats to ICC
Calinisan explained that Fontillas was already charged on Tuesday with “inciting to sedition” by his mother unit, the Quezon City Police Department (QCPD), and faces a maximum of six years in prison.
Calinisan said the patrolman, who was placed under the restrictive custody of the QCPD, also faces summary dismissal from government service, possibly including the forfeiture of benefits, under the administrative charges to be pursued by Napolcom.
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On Tuesday, the QCPD filed the criminal complaint against Fontillas for violation of Article 142 of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, or Republic Act No. 10175.
Fitness to serve
In a series of Facebook posts on March 11, the day former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested, Fontillas slammed the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).
“To ICC and Interpol, don’t even lay your finger on our Tatay (father) Digong or else we will start the war that you can’t even imagine. This is not a warning; this is a threat!” he said.
Calinisan said Napolcom would resolve “with judicious dispatch” the administrative charges against the police officer “as his fitness to remain in the police service is what is at stake.”
“We assure the Filipino people that Patrolman Fontillas is not a representation of the 225,000 strong police force,” he said.
“Moving forward, the Napolcom will review and look into the recruitment process and the annual neuropsychiatric evaluation in the PNP and search for possible improvements in the current procedures,” he said.
In a separate statement, the QCPD said Fontillas showed up at headquarters at about 11 a.m. on Thursday and submitted his explanations regarding his actions and absences.
Now in tears
It said Fontillas “expressed his sincere apology and deep regret for his actions” when he reported to the QCPD Director Col. Melecio Buslig Jr.
“He assured that he has learned from this experience and vowed not to repeat such behavior,” the QCPD said.
The QCPD said that “due process is being observed, and appropriate actions will be taken in accordance with the law” in dealing with Fontillas.
The QCPD assured the public that it would remain steadfast in upholding professionalism, discipline and strict adherence to the laws and regulations governing uniformed personnel.
In a Facebook post on Friday, Fontillas said he was only referring to the ICC and Interpol in his post and not the Philippine government.
“Fighting against the ICC and Interpol is not tantamount to inciting to sedition,” he argued.
