Police chief fired over viral video of him playing cards and drinking with officers inside station

Drinking and gambling in the workplace is never a good idea.

That’s a rule that Koronadal, South Cotabato’s police chief doesn’t seem to know. The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced today that Police Lieutenant Colonel Benjiel Kirby Bajo has been dismissed after a video showing him drinking and playing cards with his men inside their station circulated online.

Police Brigadier General Eliseo Rasco, regional director of Police Regional Office 12, ordered his dismissal yesterday. Bajo is currently being investigated for what went down in the viral video, GMA News reported.

A copy of the video was posted on the Facebook page of Brigada News FM Koronadal two days ago and has been shared more than 3,200 times. The men appear to be drinking liquor and playing cards. However, Bajo told the radio station in an interview that they weren’t gambling.

“I made a little mistake there. I gathered the troupe, we had a happy hour because I don’t want them to go out of the station. I don’t think that’s really gambling because it was all done in fun. We were betting money but only in small amounts,” he said.

Betting money? That sounds like gambling, no?

Eight of Bajo’s men, those who appeared on the video, were also sacked, said Manila Bulletin. P/Lt.Col. Aldrin Gonzales, the regional police spokesperson, said the investigation will look into the possibility of making Bajo liable for letting his men drink and gamble inside the station.

Lt. Col. Rey Egos will replace Bajo in his post, The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.

Because of the controversy, PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde warned cops to avoid pubs, bars, and other similar places and ordered them to always follow the PNP’s code of conduct.