PCG officer suspended for alleged extortion

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) suspended Wednesday its officer who was arrested for alleged extortion.

A preventive suspension was immediately ordered against Ensign Allison Tindog, an operations officer of Coast Guard District Palawan, after he was apprehended by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents, Captain Armand Balilo, Coast Guard spokesman, said.

He said the Coast Guard has started conducting a thorough investigation on the alleged extortion case.

According to reports, Tindog allegedly extorted money from a couple, whom they intercepted while sailing aboard their yacht in Palawan for lack of pertinent documents to travel.

The couple was asked to pay ₱180,000 for the violation, but it was eventually downgraded to ₱80,000. However, the receipt showed that they only paid for ₱10,000.

The couple then continued to travel, but they were once again intercepted and asked to pay another ₱110,000 for lack of permit. They haggled until Tindog allegedly decided to impose ₱50,000

fine.

This prompted the couple to seek help from the NBI. An entrapment operation was launched, resulting in Tindog’s arrest.

The PCG stated that they do not tolerate such corrupt practice.

“As civil servants and public officials, the unethical use of a public service position for personal advantage is regarded as a serious breach of duty. Thus, we do not tolerate the alleged extortion of Ensign Allison R. Tindog,” the organization said in a statement.