The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said it will let the law takes its course on the complaint filed against the force’s Internal Affairs Service (IAS) chief Alfegar Triambulo before the Office of the Ombudsman.
“Since the case has been filed against our Inspector General IAS, maybe we will just wait because it is now with the Ombudsman. But I intend to talk to our IG IAS so that we can know some details about the events that happened that led to the filing of a case against him),” PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. told reporters in a presser after the flag-raising rites in Camp Crame.
Triambulo is facing a complaint for sexual harassment filed by IAS employee Genevieve Lipura represented by her lawyer Ariel Radovan. The case was filed before the Ombudsman on Sept. 5.
Lipura, a female non-uniformed personnel, also filed falsification of document charges against Triambulo. Aside from Triambulo, also charged with falsification and with the same administrative cases was Chief Inspector Felixberto C. Kabiling, acting chief of PNP’s Administrative and Finance Management Division (AFMD) who allegedly committed such acts in cahoots with the former.
Asked if they will conduct a parallel probe that may result in Triambulo’s relief from his post, Azurin said there is no need for it “at this time”.
In her complaint-affidavit and in her letter to Ombudsman Samuel Martires, Lipura claimed that the sexual harassment took place sometime in June 2021 before she dropped off Triambulo in his office in Camp Crame.
“I believe it was already filed, definitely we respect the Ombudsman, but mine is I will talk personally to IG IAS. I think it is the Office of the President who decides because (the President) is the appointing authority,” he added.
Sought for comment, Triambulo dismissed the complaint as a demolition job against him.
The IAS serves as the PNP’s institutional watchdog in charge of disciplining, monitoring and investigating, and adjudicating administrative cases of erring PNP personnel.
Before the said incident, Lipura said she requested a meeting with Triambulo to talk about Kabiling’s recommendation for her to be assigned to a much lower designation as computer operator.
