A POLICEMAN and three volunteer police auxiliaries (VPAs) were arrested on Tuesday, November 5, for extortion at a wake at Purok 8, Seawall, Barangay 76-A, Davao City.
The police officer was identified as Police Corporal Reynard A. Aballe from San Pedro Police Station while his three cohorts, all Davao Police Auxiliaries, were still unnamed.
They were arrested for allegedly extorting money from an illegal gambling operation of Cara y Cruz or hantak on November 5 at around 11 p.m. at a funeral wake at Purok 8, Seawall.
Police Regional Office (PRO) Davao director Police Brigadier General Filmore Escobal lamented the involvement of his policeman and the auxiliaries in such illegal activity. He said he will not tolerate such deeds among his ranks.
“I am making this clear, there is no place in the PNP (Philippine National Police) for police scalawags, especially those who extort money from illegal activities,” Escobal said.
“We will never tolerate such wrongdoing because it is a disgrace not just to our uniform but to the good men and women of the PNP, many of whom have given their lives fighting for truth, honor, and integrity,” he added.
Aballe will face criminal and administrative cases for grave misconduct but Escobal assured that he will undergo due process.
“Rest assured that we will continue to strictly practice discipline as reforms are also implemented nationwide until our organization will be thoroughly cleansed. Our tasks are continuing and evolving and that shared responsibility from the public is very important in ensuring peace and upholding law and order in our respective communities to protect and keep our families safe,” he added.
In line with their internal cleansing program, he likewise urged the public should they have information on illegal activities involving the police forces to report it to their hotline number (09985987026) or message their Official Social Media Accounts - Pulis Rehiyon Onse 11 and Police Regional Office 11 Facebook page.
For his part, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Police Colonel Kirby John Kraft said that the incident is an isolated case. The arrest happened after the conduct of an entrapment operation together with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) following a report that the policeman and the VPAs were offering protection for gambling in exchange for money.
“As of today (Wednesday), a case for robbery with extortion was already been filed against the four suspects. Tapos na ang criminal case, na-file na po natin so right now we are in the process of the administrative case of Aballe,” Kraft said.
Kraft said they already requested the PRO 11 for the immediate relief of Corporal Aballe from DCPO and initiated the pre-charge investigation until the summary dismissal proceedings.
For the Police Auxiliaries, he also communicated with the office under the City Government of Davao that oversees the auxiliaries.
“After the incident, we filed all the necessary documents for admin case and criminal case. We also reminded our personnel na we do not tolerate such thing in DCPO under my watch. This is high time na mag toe the line ang mga personnel natin,” Kraft said.