AUTHORITIES have arrested the chief of the Godod Municipal Police Station (MPS) in Zamboanga del Norte over accusations of extortion, Philippine National Police (PNP) Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) Director Ronald Lee said on Friday, June 26, 2020.
Captain Haran Ulah was arrested in an entrapment operation conducted at about 4:58 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, in his office.
Charges of robbery-extortion will be filed against the suspect.
Lee said the operation stemmed from a report by Jose Abarca, who said the suspect demanded P10,000 as protection money on May 29.
Abarca said he was told he could continue with his treasure hunting activities in Sitio Riverside, Barangay Raba in Godod town if he provides the amount.
Ulah was arrested after receiving the P5,000 marked money from the complainant during the operation.
“We have arrested another police officer accused of extortion in line with our continuing implementation of General Gamboa’s directive to go after rogues in uniform regardless of their rank and stature. We assure the public too that we will immediately and properly act on all complaints against erring police officers and men being forwarded to us,” Lee said.
“There will be no respite in our crackdown against police scalawags and other rogues in government service despite the ongoing strict enforcement of quarantine measures to help prevent the further spread of Covid-19. Walang Covid-Covid sa amin kapag ang huhulihin ay iskalawag na pulis,” he added.
The operation against Ulab was conducted by the PNP-IMEG Mindanao Field Unit with the assistance of the Provincial Intelligence Branch and Provincial Investigation and Detection Management Branch of Zamboanga del Norte Police Provincial Office. (SunStar Philippines)