A FORMER chief of the regional Highway Patrol Group (HPG-7) and 13 police officers were cleared of charges of falsification and dishonesty by the Ombudsman-Visayas.
In a resolution, graft investigation and prosecution officer Myra dela Rama-Gargaceran dismissed the complaint filed at their office by Maria Paz Yu for lack of evidence.
Yu filed a criminal complaint for falsification of documents and an administrative complaint for grave misconduct and dishonesty against Senior Supt. Romualdo Iglesia and 13 officers after her name was implicated in an impounding incident.
The complaint was filed at the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices (Moleo).
Also charged were Chief Insp. Renny Eguia, former HPG-7 chief investigator, Chief Insp. Eduardo Mara, Senior Insp. Joselito Lerion, Insp. Rhandee Sibal, SPO1 Aldrin Golingan, SPO1 Bienvenido Gamo II, PO3 Wilfredo Jovellano, PO2 Rubelio Oriesga, PO1 Virgilio Suico, PO1 Julito Torreon, PO1 Lawrence Gagarin, PO1 Julito Torreon, PO1 Erlando Metante Jr. and PO1 Telesforo Bodo.
On Aug. 8, 2012, the Highway Patrol Group in coordination with other law enforcers flagged down a Honda Jazz Hatchback for failing to have its registration sticker attached to its license at St. Michael Street, Banilad, Cebu City.
The operation was part of the government’s “no license plate, no travel” policy.
The Honda Jazz Hatchback with license plate number JZN 100 was driven by a certain Prudencio Sanopao, who presented the vehicle’s registration papers under Yu’s name.
In addition to the vehicle’s outdated registration, Sanopao didn’t have a valid driver’s license.
He was invited for questioning while the vehicle was impounded.
In a court hearing, the HPG-7 team presented a certification from the Land Transportation Office saying that the license plate JZN 100 was issued to a Toyota Hi-Ace Grandia Van registered under Kudos Trucking.
However, Yu argued that based on a document from the LTO, the van’s license plate referred to by the HPG is not JZN 100 but YET 868.
Yu accused the HPG-7 team of misleading the court for allegedly presenting false certification on the van.
But Gargaceran said the certification presented by HPG-7 group was a public document and it’s presumed to have been completed in compliance to standard government procedures. She said the respondents didn’t issue the certificate.
Gargaceran said a separate investigation should be done on the issuance of the certification.