CEBU CITY — The head of Police Regional Office 7 (Central Visayas) on Tuesday ordered the relief of all personnel of the Pari-an Police after one of its officers was caught extorting PHP20,000 from the mother of a drug suspect in an entrapment operation conducted Monday afternoon.
Chief Supt. Robert Quenery said he was really dismayed over the arrest of PO3 Ritchie Saquilabon of the Pari-an Police that he ordered the relief of the station’s 39 uniformed personnel, including its commander, Chief Insp. Ramoncillo Sawan.
“I expressed my disappointment over this incident,” Quenery said. “We are religious in our anti-illegal drug operations, and yet some of our police officers are involved in illegal activities.”
Quenery said all relieved personnel would be investigated to determine the possible involvement of other Pari-an police officers in the extortion racket after Saquilabon was reportedly accompanied by two colleagues during the sting operation. The two policemen managed to escape.
The Fuente Police, whose officers saw the three erring policemen, however, refused to name the two policemen who are at large, as Counter-Intelligence Task Force agents from Camp Crame have launched a manhunt operation against them.
The 40-year-old Saquilabon allegedly negotiated and extorted money from the mother of an arrested drug personality in exchange for the lowering of charges against her son.
Saquilabon and his team reportedly arrested Richie Labus of Barangay Banilad earlier this month for allegedly selling illegal drugs.
The police officer then allegedly negotiated with the suspect’s mother, Gloria Labus, and demanded PHP20,000 to have the case lowered to “drug possession”.
However, Gloria Labus informed Camp Crame of the extortion attempt through a text message, prompting the Counter-Intelligence Task Force to send a team to Cebu and conduct the entrapment operation.
Saquilabon is now detained at the Fuente Police Station, pending the filing of criminal and administrative charges against him.
Quenery said the Internal Affairs Service would be preparing the administrative charges against Saquilabon, who will most likely be dismissed from service, along with his two other colleagues.
The PRO-7 chief also said that all Pari-an Police personnel would undergo re-training and attend the Values Recovery Program. (PNA)
