CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — Eleven policemen, including two officials in Bulacan, were relieved from their posts following their alleged involvement in extortion activities.
Chief Supt. Amador Corpus, regional director of the Police Regional Office (Central Luzon), on Thursday said those relieved from their posts were temporarily transferred to the Provincial Holding and Accounting Unit pending the conduct of proper investigation.
They were identified as Police Senior Inspector Wilfredo Dizon Jr.; SPO4 Gary Santos; SPO2 Christopher Aragon; SPO1 Dante Castillo; SPO1 Jophey Cucal; SPO1 Rolando Ignacio Jr.; PO3 Dennis De Vera; PO2 Rosauro Enrile; PO2 Nicanor Bautista; and, PO2 Chester Say-eo.
Police Supt. Rizalino Andaya, chief of San Rafael Municipal Police Station, was also relieved from his post as a matter of standard operating procedure of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on the relief and reassignment of unit commanders and key officers under the doctrine of command responsibility.
Reports said the relieved policemen from San Rafael Municipal Police Station reportedly demanded PHP50,000 in exchange for the release of couple Virgilio De Leon and Dorothy Sayo who were selling alleged fake cigarettes.
The couple reported the matter to the PNP-Counter Intelligence Task Force where it immediately responded and coordinated with Bulacan Police Provincial Office acting director Senior Supt. Chito Bersaluna.
Corpus said the PNP-CITF has already filed criminal complaints for kidnapping, robbery in band and violation of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices) before the Department of Justice against the relieved police personnel.
“This move of filing charges, disciplining and dismissing erring police personnel shows efforts of the PNP in removing bad eggs in the police force, and that the rule of law does not distinguish rank, position or popularity whether victim or respondent in the PNP organization. This is a clear manifestation of our keen determination to remove misfits among the ranks of our organization,” he added.(Ric Sapnu/PNA)
