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Thursday, May 25, 2006
Entrapped soliciting money from PNP applicant
By Jovy S. Taghoy
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
A policeman was arrested in an entrapment by operatives of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division (RIID) for allegedly extorting from a police applicant last Tuesday night.
The arrested policeman was identified as SPO3 Uldarico E. Geroy, who is assigned at the Regional Health Service (RHS) 7. He is due to retire on July 4.
Geroy was arrested at 7:40 p.m. Tuesday outside a KTV bar along Sanciangko St., Cebu City, after allegedly receiving P30,000 cash from an applicant (name withheld, upon the request of the police officials), who hails from Bohol.
Geroy denied any wrong-doing, saying the applicant offered him the money, which he rejected.
Geroy’s arrest was not the first case of a policeman allegedly extorting from applicants.
Exchange
Last Sept. 21, 2004, RIID operatives arrested, for a similar offense, PO1 Honorato T. Alilin Jr., formerly assigned at the human resource section of the Regional Personnel Human Resource Doctrine and Development Office of the Police Regional Office 7.
A blind item that came out last April 18 in Sun.Star Cebu about “a police post for sale,” prompted former Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 director Eduardo Gador to order counter-intelligence operations about the report.
The report proved true after the applicant himself sought the assistance of the RIID against Geroy.
The applicant, who has been trying to join the organization three times, said he first gave P2,000 to Geroy last December after he was assured of a slot in the recruitment.
The applicant, however, failed to make it into the 100 slots for policemen who took oath last March 10.
In June last year, the applicant said two policemen also approached and asked for P16,000 from him, in exchange for a guaranteed slot.
‘Stop them’
When the PRO 7 announced the recruitment of 150 qualified applicants, he took his chance and applied again.
Geroy allegedly approached him again. This time, Geroy allegedly demanded P30,000 from him.
The applicant raised the money by pawning some family belongings in Bohol.
But before meeting with Geroy, the applicant filed a complaint before the RIID against the policeman.
“Gusto nako nga masumpo na sila (I want to stop them),” the applicant told reporters.
The applicant, together with Senior Insp. Romeo Santander of RIID, conducted the entrapment against Geroy.
Geroy, during the presentation yesterday, however, denied the allegation.
Geroy, who has been in the service for 33 years, said it was the applicant who offered him money placed inside an envelope.
He did not accept the money, he said.
Geroy tested negative of ultraviolet powder that was placed on the money. He, however, admitted that it was already the third time he met with the applicant.
Warning
He declined to comment on how he got acquainted with the applicant.
Senior Supt. Ronald Roderos told reporters that a criminal case will be filed against Geroy before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas, while the National Police Commission (Napolcom) 7 will handle the administrative investigation.
If found guilty, Geroy will not receive his P1-million retirement benefit from the PNP.
“This will serve as a warning for the applicants not to be duped by these people. We will take action against our personnel and cleanse our own ranks. They will bear the consequences,” Roderos pointed out.
Apart from Geroy, the PRO 7 is checking reports that there are at least four other policemen who are engaged in the extortion activity.
Geroy was presented to the media at 10:30 a.m. yesterday by members of the PNP recruitment regional screening board made up of Homer Cabaral of the Napolcom 7, Pedro Noval Jr. of the Department of Interior and Local Government 7, retired colonel Cesar Veloso and Roderos, the chairman.
The arresting operatives were led by RIID Chief Augusto Marquez Jr.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (May 25, 2006 issue)
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