Raps filed vs 4 cops in kidnap, extortion
Criminal charges have been filed against four Makati policemen for allegedly kidnapping a businessman and his girlfriend and extorting P400,000 in exchange for their release.
The Philippine National Police Counter-Intelligence Task Force (PNPCITF) on Wednesday filed a complaint for kidnapping against Police Officers 2 Harley Garcera and Clarence Maynes and PO1s Tim Galzote and Jeffrey Cañete before the Pasay City prosecutor’s office.
Administrative charges were also filed against the policemen who will undergo summary dismissal proceedings, the PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) said yesterday.
IAS head Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo said they expect to resolve the cases of grave misconduct against the police officers next month.
Garcera, Maynes, Galzote and Cañete, assigned with the Makati police intelligence unit, were arrested by CITF operatives in an entrapment operation based on the complaint of a bike shop owner and his girlfriend, who were allegedly kidnapped by the suspects along Kalayaan Road in Merville, Pasay on May 8.
The police officers allegedly demanded P400,000 in exchange for the victims’ release.
The victims were released on Tuesday after the businessman’s family reportedly paid P100,000, with the remaining P300,000 to be given the next day.
Makati police chief Senior Superintendent Dionisio Bartolome and intelligence head Chief Inspector Oscar Pagulayan were relieved from their posts following the arrest of the policemen.
Another lawman, PO1 Enred Guitering, of the Manila Police District Station 6, is facing an administrative complaint for alleged extortion.
Guitering was collared by CITF agents on Wednesday after he allegedly demanded P50,000 from an arrested drug suspect in exchange for dropping of charges against him.
If proven guilty, Triambulo said the police officers would be dismissed from the police service and their benefits forfeited.
Erring cops under watch
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) is monitoring policemen allegedly involved in illegal activities such as kidnapping, extortion and drugs.
“We are monitoring more police officers possibly involved in illicit activities,” NCRPO chief Director Oscar Albayalde told The STAR.
Albayalde said he has created a task force that would look into the wrongdoings of the PNP members as part of the internal cleansing and the government’s campaign against erring policemen.
Albayalde refused to say the number of policemen being monitored by the NCRPO.
“I will not tolerate any wrongdoing of policemen,” Albayalde said.
He appealed to the public not to lose their trust with the PNP amid the involvement of some police officers in illegal activities.
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