PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, November 20, said he ordered the dismissal of three police officers who were accused of extorting money from interested suppliers of around 3,000 body cameras.

“The three majors who were woking on the body camera, they were arguing maybe because of money, because of corruption. So I said, ‘Fire them. Dismiss them,’” Duterte said in a speech delivered at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

“If they do not want to be dismissed, just do not allow them to enter the camp. Just tell him you are no longer a policeman,” he added.

Philippine National Police officer-in-charge Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa announced on November 18, 2019 that he signed the order dismissing the three officers.

Gamboa revealed that a losing bidder in the P334-million body cam project complained against three police majors who asked for P5 million.

The complainant allegedly paid the amount but was still disqualified from the bidding.

Gamboa identified the accused as Police Majors Emerson Sales, Rholly Carragayan and Angel Beros. Sales and Caraggayan were on Awol (Absent Without Official Leave) status prior to their dismissal. Beros was still in active service.

They were members of the PNP Bids and Awards Committee technical working group.

Gamboa said he already ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to file criminal charges against the three officers. (NASE/SunStar Philippines)