MANILA – The National Police Commission (Napolcom) on Thursday said all police personnel are required to undergo annual neuropsychiatric tests amid the controversial social media outbursts of a patrolman.

Napolcom Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan said the organization seeks to ensure the cognitive function, emotional stability, and psychological well-being of every police officer to determine if they are mentally fit for their role.

“‘Yong fitness ng tao bilang pulis ay napakaimportante and it is clear that Fontillas is not fit to wear that police uniform and the Napolcom will make sure that only policemen who are fit will wear the uniform and wear that badge and serve the Filipino people,” Calinisan told ABS-CBN News.

(A police officer’s fitness is very important.)

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Patrolman Francis Steve Fontillas threatened the International Criminal Court and Interpol, saying he would bring "war" against them if they tried to "lay [a] finger” on former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Calinisan said Fontillas is an isolated case and does not represent the 225,000-strong Philippine National Police (PNP).

 “Hindi dapat ma-drag ‘yong buong institusyon ng Philippine National Police dahil lang sa iisang tao at itong iisang tao na ito ay may sakit at may medical condition,” he said. “Kakaiba siya, kailangan niya ng tulong, hindi siya fit to become a policeman.” 

(The entire institution of the Philippine National Police should not be dragged down because of one person, and this person has an illness and a medical condition. He is different, he needs help, and he is not fit to be a policeman.)

NEUROPSYCHIATRIC EXAM RESULTS

In an earlier media briefing, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Medical and Dental Unit chief Lt. Col. Van Jason Villamor said Fontillas exhibited normal function in his past neuropsychiatric exams, allowing him to continue serving since joining the police force in 2021.

Nonetheless, Fontillas was asked to undergo a “special medical evaluation” in February after exhibiting “erratic behavior,” but he has not attended it, according to Calinisan. 

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 “Hindi ito ‘yong regular na neuro exam ang kanyang ina-undergo. ‘Yong exam na ‘to na dapat kinuha niya noong February was prompted because may sulat ‘yong kanyang mga superiors sa health office ng QCPD kung saan pinapasilip sa QCPD kung meron ngang problema itong si Fontillas because he is exhibiting erratic behavior,” Calinisan said.

 (This is not the regular neuro exam he was supposed to take. This exam, which he was scheduled for in February, was prompted by a letter from his superiors to the QCPD health office, asking them to check if Fontillas had a problem because he was exhibiting erratic behavior.)

 “This is a special medical evaluation on top of the usual annual medical evaluation conducted for policemen. Medyo siguro klaro naman na itong si Fontillas is a very unique, sensitive case,” he added.

 (It should be clear that Fontillas is a very unique and sensitive case.)

ABSENCE FROM WORK

Fontillas earlier told ABS-CBN News that he planned to report to work on Thursday after his March 6-19 leave of absence.

However, the QCPD said the patrolman had not reported to the office as of this writing.

Fontillas is assigned to the District Personnel and Holding Admin Section of the QCPD.

His superiors said his leave, which was supposedly for medical reasons, was not approved due to his failure to submit proper documents.

POSTPONEMENT

Fontillas said his neuropsychiatric exam at the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Headquarters on Monday did not push through.

“Suki na ako ng psychiatric exam na ‘yon eh, ilang beses na ako nag-take eh, so hindi na ako pinag-take. Nag-base na lang sila sa mga records ko do’n. Ibig sabihin, pasado pa rin,” he said. 

(I’m already a regular at that psychiatric exam, I’ve taken it several times, so they didn’t make me take it again. They just based it on my records there. That means I still passed.)

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But Villamor said Fontillas “just left,” which is why the exam did not push through.

Five administrative complaints have been filed against Fontillas, on top of one "inciting to sedition" criminal case before the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office, according to the QCPD.