2 QCPD execs axed over extortion in drug sting

Two Quezon City Police District (QCPD) officials were relieved from their posts yesterday after five of their men were sacked and charged for allegedly extorting money from the partner of a man arrested in an unauthorized drug sting.

Superintendent Dario Anasco, Masambong police station commander, and Senior Inspector Virgilio Miguel Carodan, station anti-illegal drug (SAID) unit chief, will be investigated for their possible involvement in the sting and extortion last week, said QCPD director Senior Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar.

He named Superintendent Igmedio Bernaldez to replace Anasco, who has been the station commander since Feb. 16. Carodan was assigned as the station’s anti-drug head on July 11.

This comes after robberyextortion charges were filed before the city prosecutor’s office against five Masambong policemen for trying to extort P100,000 from Jackeline Pineda, the partner of alleged drug suspect Zaldy Roda.

Pineda said Roda was arrested by three policemen – identified as Senior Inspector Donato Mayor Jr., Senior Police Officer 3 Archimedes Marzan and Police Officer 1 Jay Ron Naz Ramos de Dios – in an unauthorized drug sting at a canteen in Barangay Paltok on Aug. 15.

Roda was then reportedly referred to PO1 Michael Gragasin and PO2 Alex Chocowen, both detailed at SAID, where he was physically abused, Pineda claimed.

Gragasin was arrested in an entrapment operation by police officers of the QCPD’s District Special Operating Unit on Saturday for trying to extort P100,000 from Pineda in exchange for Roda’s freedom.

Mayor was the commander of the Police Community Precinct 2, which has jurisdiction over the area where Roda was arrested, while the two others are assigned to the police station.

The three policemen are not authorized to conduct drug busts as they are not detailed at the SAID and stings also have to be coordinated with the QCPD and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, officials said.