Twenty policemen, including the chief of police of the Anilao police station in Iloilo province, were sacked after they were found sleeping on the job while on duty.
Police Regional Office director Chief Supt John Bulalacao ordered the relief of Sr. Insp. Menrico Candaliza, Anilao town chief of police, for command responsibility over the lapses committed by his men who were caught sleeping on duty.
“I ordered for the immediate relief of all personnel of Anilao MPS for the alleged misconduct, including their Chief of Police, Police Senior Inspector Menrico Candaliza,” Bulalacao said.
Bulalacao designated Chief Insp. Ciriaco Esquiliarga to take over Candaliza’s post.
He said the Anilao police personnel were caught sleeping while on duty following a surprise inspection by a team from the National Police Commission from Region 6 two days ago.
Bulalacao said that because most of the policemen in the station were asleep, there was no one manning the complaint desk.
“They are now temporarily assigned with the Personnel Holding Administrative Unit [PHAU] of Iloilo Police Provincial Office while they are facing investigation,” Bulalacao said.
This was not the first time that .policemen were caught sleeping on the job, because when PNP chief Oscar Albayalde was still the NCRPO director, he also caught metro cops sleeping while on duty.