By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

After six Police Station 10 cops were caught sleeping on the job last March, along with three recent incidents in Metro Manila, wherein several cops, including four station commanders, were caught either sleeping or drinking alcoholic beverages while on duty, Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) chief, Police Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo, yesterday revealed police stations throughout the city are being regularly inspected to ensure personnel are working.

During a press conference, Ebreo said officers are required to follow their beat patrol, which is monitored by the BCPO auditing team.

He noted, such patrols are conducted both day and night.

If an assigned police officer is not at their designated area, the auditing team reports the case to the station commander, which is then required to provide an explanation.

The six Bacolod City police officers caught sleeping on the job were slapped with 50-day suspensions last month. However, with the officers filing motions for reconsideration, Ebreo explained they are unable to enforce the suspensions while their motions are pending.

He added, since the incident, they have yet to catch other local officers sleeping on the job.

Last Tuesday night, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, Police Director Oscar Albayalde, sacked 18 police officers, four of whom were station commanders, after they were caught either sleeping or drinking liquor while on duty.

Albayalde stripped the 18 cops of their weapons and badges, and re-assigned them to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit in Metro Manila, while administrative charges are being prepared./DGB, WDJ