3 cop recruits in Visayas face ouster for racy Facebook photo

Three police recruits already face the prospect of being dismissed because of a controversial photo they posted on social networking site Facebook. Western Visayas police head Chief Superintendent Cipriano Querol Jr. said hearings are now being held for the dismissal of the three persons, whom he did not name. “If evidence warrants, I want them dismissed because we don’t need policemen like them and what they did was conduct unbecoming," Querol said in an article posted on Thursday on the news site Visayan Daily Star. The report said the three recruits were from the Police Regional Training School. The case against them stemmed from a Facebook photo of the three persons, one of whom was reportedly depicted pulling down his police athletic shorts to expose his genitals. Several Facebook users, including fellow police personnel, reacted negatively to the photo. While the photo has already been taken down, Querol said the Police Regional Office 6 secures a copy of the controversial photo. For his part, PRO-6 Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division head Superintendent Pedrito Escarilla said the three persons had been asked explain in writing what they did. Escarilla said the three persons initially denied that they posted the photo on Facebook. However, Escarilla said their denial may not stand because there is evidence against them. Querol told the policemen that Facebook is not bad because it helped solve several crimes. However, he stressed that it should not be used to propagate immoral acts. Querol said Philippine National Police chief Director General Raul Bacalzo has been informed about the matter and has ordered that the incident be thoroughly investigated. He said Bacalzo ordered that the three persons, if found guilty, be removed from the service. – VVP, GMA News