On Pascua’s reinstatement

We would like to clarify the news report titled “QCPD files raps vs cop who blocked P-Noy convoy” (Inquirer, 7/20/12).

In the seventh paragraph of the article, it is stated that SPO2 Ricardo Pascua, the subject of the story, had been investigated twice for grave misconduct and was found guilty by the National Police Commission “but was later reinstated after Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa approved his appeal.”

While it is true that Pascua was dismissed from the service, he was not reinstated by Ochoa, as the article claimed. Following his dismissal from the Philippine National Police, Pascua filed a petition for review before the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government, which then ordered his reinstatement, without entitlement to back wages, in December 2008.

The appeal handled by the Office of the President, and subsequently granted by Ochoa in a decision dated April 11, 2012, pertains to Pascua’s entitlement to back wages—not his reinstatement, which was already decided on by the DILG in 2008.

We hope this helps clarify the issues surrounding the reinstatement of Pascua.

—JOSE EMMANUEL DAVID M. EVA III,
assistant secretary,
Office of the President, Malacañang

The information that SPO2 Pascua was dismissed from the PNP but reinstated after his appeal was approved by Executive Secretary Ochoa, came from a Quezon City Police District director, Chief Supt. Mario de la Vega.

In my story, I clearly attributed the information to De la Vega, a long-time source and someone I know as a responsible police official. Nonetheless, I welcome the correction and thank Mr. Eva for the letter.

—NANCY C. CARVAJAL,
reporter, Inquirer