Cop in extort try on Metro Manila police chief's son axed

MANILA -- The policeman who tried to extort money from the son of Metro Manila police chief Leonardo Espina was finally dismissed from police service effective September 12, but not because of his recent alleged extort attempt.

Espina fired Senior Police Officer 4 Jose Dela Peña Jr. in response to another complaint filed by retired general Celso Castro who claimed that his son was also a victim of the erring policeman.

The retired general filed a complaint against Dela Peña's alleged arrogant act of searching without warrant and for driving alone the car of his son while the latter was in the patrol car.

According to the complaint, Dela Peña and four other cops were conducting a random checkpoint in the corner of Betty Go Belmonte and Dama de Noche streets in Baranagay Mariana, New Manila, Quezon City, on November 7, 2009, when the policemen flagged down the car driven by Castro's son and asked for his driver's license.

He then opened the door of the passenger seat and dipped his hands inside the pouch of the car. He also directed the other cops to search extensively the vehicle's interior by opening the backseat doors and looking beneath the car seats.

Dela Peña and his companions were dismissed due to grave misconduct and serious irregularity in the performance of duty.

The other erring cops were identified as Police Officer (PO) 3 Rodolfo De Jesus, PO3 Carlos Bromeo, PO2 Crodel De Jose, and PO2 Dionel Rosario.

Dela Peña will suffer the forfeiture of all his benefits including the cancellation of his retirement benefits and pension amounting to millions of pesos. He also lost his eligibility and is disqualified for re-employment in the police service.

Dela Peña, together with PO2 Resty del Rosario, was accused of trying to extort P20,000 from Espina's son, whom he accused of engaging in phone sex. The Metro Manila police chief clarified that the recent extortion attempt on his son has nothing to do with the dismissal of the erring cop.

Other supposed victims of Dela Peña also came out to lodge their complaints against the policeman, who is also facing charges of robbery, extortion, threat, and harassment.

Espina vowed that other erring cops will suffer the same fate as Dela Peña.

"Everybody should behave under my command." Espina said.

"Don't imitate these kinds of acts. Don't put your service into waste," said Espina, who also warned that a police misdeed of any gravity will be punished as it ruins the image of the police service.

Espina also ordered the inventory of policemen with pending major cases and directed the resolution of these cases within 30 days.

Other erring policemen, who are mostly accused of grave misconduct, lined up for dismissal are as follows:
• PO1 Adolfo Bautista Jr.
• PO2 Ferdinand Raquin
• PO2 John Pierre Bautista
• PO1 Benjamin Gonzales
• PO1 Rommel Isidro
• SPO2 Federico Lictawa
• PO1 Nicoli Vigilia
• PO1 Eric Babasa
• PO1 Rustico Gabuco
• Police Superintendent Rogelio Rosales
• PO2 Repablo Genarao

Espina also asked the public to report erring police personnel by texting the National Capital Region Police Office at 0999-901-8181. (Emmanuel Louis Bacani/Sunnex)