Friday, February 15, 2008 3 cops sacked for extortion
THREE policemen earlier accused of extortion were ordered dismissed.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Ronald Roderos signed the dismissal order against SPO1 Jaime Otadoy, PO3 Rey Albotra and PO1 Raniel Capangpangan last Feb. 11.
Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Patrocinio Comendador, when sought for comment, said the dismissal only indicated that the organization does not condone misdemeanor.
He hopes this will serve as reminder to other policemen not to engage in illegal activities.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 set up an entrapment for Otadoy, Capangpangan and Albotra right inside the Vice Control Section (VCS) office last Aug. 22.
Only Otadoy was arrested because Capangpangan slipped past operatives, while Albotra was not around.
Businessman Reuel Lerio sought police assistance when the three policemen allegedly threatened to slap him with a non-bailable drug case if he did not cough up P2 million.
Lerio said they reportedly brought it down to P1.2 million when he told them he didn’t have that amount.
He made an initial payment of P200,000.
But because the policemen asked for the balance, his family decided to bring the matter to authorities.
The case led to the disbandment of the Vice Control Section of the CCPO.
It also led to the relief of its chief, Insp. Wilbert Parilla, from the CCPO. Parilla was investigated separately.
No less than the chief of the regional directorial staff, Senior Supt. Arnulfo Perez, heard the conversation between one of the policemen and the civilian complainant.
Heard
Perez said he heard PO1 Capangpangan talking to a female relative of Lerio.
However, Otadoy found two witnesses who claimed no entrapment took place and that the operatives from the NBI and Regional Investigation Division picked up Otadoy at the VCS office.
Otadoy said that Lerio offered to pay him when they pressed him for information. He said Lerio was in their surveillance list.
The dismissal orders were sent to the Regional Personnel and Human Resource Development Division (RPHRDD). The RPHRDD issued the implementing orders last Tuesday.
Otadoy was quoted by radio dyLA as saying that he plans to appeal the case.
The three officers have also sought the services of lawyer Pedro Leslie Salva to help them.
Otadoy said he received the implementing orders last Wednesday, but Capangpangan and Albotra said they have yet to see the orders.
All three were relieved from the CCPO and reassigned to the Regional Headquarters Security Group of the PRO 7 pending investigation.
The three officers have 10 days from receipt of the orders to file an appeal. (MEA/With JST)
