MANILA: An employee of the Department of Interior and Local Government accused of physically and verbally attacking a traffic constable is facing an administrative charge that, if found guilty, would result in his outright dismissal from service.
In a show cause order issued yesterday by the Department of Interior and Local Government Legal Service, Arvin Vinluan, a Local Government Operations Officer at the Department of Interior and Local Government Region IV-A (Calabarzon), was asked to explain within forty-eight hours allegations that he attacked Metro Manila Development Authority traffic constable Jonard Jeramil when the latter accosted him for jaywalking last Monday.
The order, signed by Department of Interior and Local Government Legal Service Director Jesus Doque IV, read: “(This is) in relation to the incident that took place last Monday, November 5, 2012 and was captured on camera, aired on national television and published over the web, wherein you appeared to have attacked the Metro Manila Development Authority Traffic Constable who accosted you for Jaywalking and for allegedly using your employment in the Department to avoid being penalised for said offence.”
“Pursuant to Rule 4, Section 16 of the Revised Rules of Administrative Cases in the Civil Service, you are hereby directed to show cause and/or explain in writing within 48 hours why no administrative case should be filed against you for grave misconduct, which is punishable by dismissal from office,” the show cause order added.
The charge of grave misconduct, depending on the gravity, may also result in forfeiture of all benefits in government service, including retirement.
Those found guilty may also be banned from entering any position in government.
Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas earlier ordered the filing of administrative charges against Vinluan, noting that cases of employees attacking persons in authority will not be tolerated at the Department of Interior and Local Government.
The incident involving Vinluan took place along Espana, Manila on Monday morning when Jeramil accosted Vinluan for jaywalking but the latter ignored the traffic officer.
This led to a heated argument allegedly resulting in Vinluan punching and shoving Jeramil.
Part of the altercation was even recorded by a closed-circuit television camera installed in a nearby barangay hall.
The Philippine star
