Napolcom charges cop despite his tearful apologies

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) in the Philippines is moving forward with charges against Patrolman Francis Steve Fontillas. This follows his social media posts that were deemed "seditious." Despite Fontillas’ public apologies, Napolcom will pursue both criminal and administrative actions against him. Fontillas made a series of threatening posts about the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Interpol on March 11. He warned these organizations not to interfere with former President Rodrigo Duterte, stating that there would be severe consequences. Following these posts, he was charged by the Quezon City Police Department (QCPD) for inciting sedition. This could lead to a prison sentence of up to six years. Napolcom Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan emphasized that Fontillas’ actions do not represent the Philippine National Police, which consists of around 225,000 members. He also noted that now is the time to review recruitment and mental health evaluations within the police force to ensure proper standards. Fontillas has since appeared at police headquarters to apologize and explain his behavior. He expressed regret for his actions and promised to refrain from similar conduct in the future. The QCPD stated that due process is being followed as they handle this case. In his defense on social media, Fontillas claimed his comments were directed at the ICC and Interpol and did not intend to incite violence against the Philippine government.