Police vlogger Fontillas, sinibak ng NAPOLCOM: “Perpetual disqualification from public service”

- Police vlogger Francis Steve Fontillas has been completely dismissed by NAPOLCOM for grave misconduct

- The National Police Commission’s ruling also included the penalty of “perpetual disqualification from public service”

- The commission recently came out with a unanimous decision on the case of Fontillas, basing their judgment on the online posts made by the police vlogger against the government

- NAPOLCOM said that despite the resignation of Fontillas, the commission has already acquired jurisdiction before he left the force, hence its recent decision and ruling

Patrolman Francis Steve Fontillas, a police officer known for his online vlogging activities, has been dismissed from the Philippine National Police (PNP) following a unanimous decision by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) En Banc.

The dismissal came after a summary dismissal proceeding conducted by the commission.

According to NAPOLCOM, the En Banc commissioners unanimously voted against Fontillas, finding him guilty of multiple grave offenses.

These included Grave Misconduct, Conduct Unbecoming of a Police Officer, and Disloyalty to the Government.

In addition to his dismissal from the police force, NAPOLCOM also imposed an accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding any position in public service.

This effectively bars Fontillas from future employment in any government capacity.

NAPOLCOM Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan clarified that Fontillas’ prior resignation did not impede the administrative and criminal cases filed against him.

Commissioner Calinisan explained that because Fontillas had already been formally charged within NAPOLCOM before he submitted his resignation, the commission had already established jurisdiction over his case. Therefore, his departure from the service did not halt the ongoing proceedings.

The administrative complaints against Patrolman Fontillas stemmed from his online posts criticizing the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

These posts were deemed to constitute the grounds for the grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming, and disloyalty charges that ultimately led to his dismissal.

The decision by NAPOLCOM underscores the organization's stance on maintaining discipline and upholding the expected conduct of its officers, particularly regarding public statements on sensitive legal and political matters.

The swift resolution of the summary dismissal proceedings indicates the seriousness with which NAPOLCOM viewed Fontillas' actions and their potential impact on the integrity of the police force.

News, photos or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, such could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable to just about simply everyone.

In March, the viral police officer who lashed out at ICC, Interpol, and President Bongbong Marcos is said to be having “mood swings” when he made the incendiary posts. Patrolman Francis Steve Fontillas, who went viral after making some posts against the international organizations and PBBM on social media submitted himself to his superiors at QCPD. According to QCPD spokesperson Police Capt. Febie Madrid, Patrolman Fontillas’ mental health had been a concern within their department. The viral policeman begged off from an interview and told the news crew they might do it at some later time.

It can be recalled that the police-vlogger who made headlines for his social media posts after Duterte’s arrest, returned to duty at the QCPD, according to NAPOLCOM. NAPOLCOM Commissioner Rafael Vicente R. Calinisan said Fontillas was “crying and extremely apologetic” and promised to refrain from posting seditious content or hate speech online. According to GMA News, Fontillas is under restrictive custody while facing criminal and administrative complaints for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer. Following the incident, NAPOLCOM will assess police recruitment processes and neuropsychiatric evaluations to improve screening for future officers.

Source: KAMI.com.gh