Saturday, February 02, 2008 3 cops suspended over extortion charges
TWO high-ranking police officials of the Cagayan de Oro Police Office (Cocpo) and a non-commissioned officer are facing a 90-day preventive suspension over extortion and other serious criminal and administrative offenses.
The People's Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) recommended Monday the sanction against Police Superintendent Paciano Deloso, Police Chief Inspector Michael John Deloso, and PO2 Joel Deloso. The recommendation, released recently, is addressed to Police Regional Director Teodorico Capuyan.
A businessman accused the three of arbitrary detention, illegal arrest, robbery/extortion, grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.
Roland S. Chio, the complainant, also alleged the respondents were harassing him.
The PLEB has not yet released the details of Chio's charges against the three policemen.
In its decision, the five-man board anchored its recommendation on the "seriousness" of the charges lobbed against the three.
The PLEB said the "the purpose of preventive suspension" is to "prevent the respondent from using his position or office to influence not only (the) complainant but also his prospective witness."
Speaking in behalf of the three police officers, Deloso said they found the PLEB's decision unfair but vowed to respect it just the same.
Seeking to downplay PLEB's adverse decision, he explained that the adverse recommendation merely relied on the assumption that they could exert undue influence on the case.
"It doesn't mean we're guilty. We're not guilty at all," Deloso told Sun.Star. He declined to elaborate.
Director Capuyan had earlier said he will respect the PLEB's decision on the matter. "I will not hesitate to place them (respondents) under suspension if the PLEB says so," he told Sun.Star.
It was not yet immediately known whether suspension has been served. ALR
