Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 13) – A seaman from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has been dismissed from service for using a government vehicle to pick up prostitutes.

In a statement on Thursday, PCG Commandant Admiral Joel Garcia affirmed the dismissal of Seaman Second Abulhair Turabin due to grave misconduct after he was caught on video using the vehicle given by his immediate supervisor to pick up prostitutes in a videoke bar in Quezon City last December.

Turabin was placed under preventive suspension upon the recommendation of his mother unit, the PCG Logistics Command.

PCG spokesperson Capt. Armand Balilo said Turabin has been found guilty of using the vehicle for personal matters outside office hours, which goes against the rules and regulations of uniformed armed service and other public servants, then leading to his dismissal.

"In this regard, PCG orders the immediate discharge from service of Turabin for failure to uphold the oath of fully obeying the orders of officers appointed over him," Garcia said.

"The PCG does not, in any way, tolerate such offense and hereby urges all men and women of the service to consider this case as a lesson to exercise morality in action at all times," he added.

There was no immediate comment from the dismissed seaman.