The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) said police officers should be morally upright models of the people.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Eleazar recently said police officers should stay loyal to their spouses, stressing that having extramarital affairs is a violation of the police’s code of ethical standards.

He won’t hesitate to impose sanctions on philandering policemen, said Eleazar.

A cop with extramarital affairs may be punished administratively or, worse, removed from the service.

“In Western Visayas, there have been no complaints yet,” said PRO-6 spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong.

The PRO-6 is encouraging spouses to speak up, she stressed.

“Gina-advise namon nga mag-file (complaint) ang mga asawa to ‘teach lessons,’” Malong said.

Aside from this, Malong said they would also accommodate complaints on violence against women and their children (VAWC).

Malong said there were wives complaining for VAWC, but some had already been settled.

In 2020, PRO-6’s data showed that there were 16 cops in the region who violated Republic Act 9262 (Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act of 2004).

Meanwhile, the region’s latest VAWC case was on July 4 where a police officer assigned in the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) allegedly mauled his wife and indiscriminately fired his gun.

Police Patrolman Karlo Sevillano Ruzgal of Numancia, Aklan has been under investigation after his wife reported the incident to the municipal police station.

The Provincial Internal Affairs Service is now handling Ruzgal’s case. (Ruby Silubrico)/WDJ