8 MPG policemen await fate

POLICE Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Marcelo Garbo Jr. said he has given his men 60 days to decide on the fate of eight members of the Mobile Patrol Group (MPG) who are accused of extortion.

“We will not allow these men to go unpunished,” he told reporters yesterday. He assured there will be no whitewash.

Garbo said he has referred the case to the Regional Investigation Detective and Management Branch, which will either suspend or dismiss the men.

“Extortion is a grave offense. We have been always strongly against this,” he said.

The investigation came about after a concerned citizen showed a video of a fair
employee in Barangay Busay, Cebu City allegedly giving money to the MPG policemen.

More evidence needed

The 30-second amateur video shows an MPG vehicle arriving at the fair. An employee approached the vehicle and handed something over to the policemen.

The names of the policemen are withheld pending the completion of the investigation.

If they are found guilty, they might be transferred to Siquijor Province.

Garbo urged the concerned citizen to yield additional video or pictures that will provide more evidence against the policemen.

“According to our intelligence information, it showed these men committed an infraction” he said.

Administrative penalties

In case the video will not be enough to incriminate the MPG policemen, Garbo said the eight policemen will still not get off the hook easily.

“Maari silang makalusot sa (They might be able to get away with the) legality but I still have administrative powers,” he said.

Some residents said there were four MPG cars with different vehicle numbers who reportedly went to the area every night.

The fair staff allegedly each gave a contribution and gave P200 to each vehicle.

Senior Supt. Mariano Natuel, Cebu City Police Office officer-in-charge, said he has learned the eight policemen frequented the fair.

“I still have to read their affidavits and weigh these down,” he said.