By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Nineteen more members of the Manila Police District-Drug Enforcement Unit (MPD-DEU) were relieved over allegations of extortion and misconduct, an official said on Monday.
MPD public information chief and spokesperson Maj. Philipp Ines said the officers were ordered to report to the MPD’s administrative holding unit as an internal investigation got underway.
“Gumugulong na po ‘yung administratibo nila na kaso at binibigyan po natin ng pagkakataon ‘yung both parties dito sa (Their administrative case is rolling and we are giving both parties a chance for) due process,” he said during a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Authorities said investigations by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) and the MPD internal affairs continue, following renewed public concern over alleged abuses by police officers.
Ines also clarified that the two male riders who filed complaints of illegal arrest and extortion before the Napolcom were, in fact, nabbed during an anti-drug operation by the MPD-DEU. They were arrested for allegedly delivering and possessing illegal drugs in Sampaloc on Sept. 9.
“Nakunan po itong mismong nagrereklamo na ito ng 120 grams ng shabu at ng 4 sachet ng marijuana kush. Nagkataon lang po, nakatakas po siya (This complainant himself was captured with 120 grams of shabu and 4 sachets of marijuana kush. By chance, he escaped),” Ines said.
“Chester,” one of the suspects, managed to escape and later lodged a complaint before Napolcom, accusing several DDEU officers of illegally detaining them and extorting money.
His complaint led to the relief of seven MPD-DEU officers.
Napolcom Commissioner Vicente Calinisan noted the discrepancies between the riders’ sworn statements and the police report, as the victims claimed alleged extortion and illegal detention, while the MPD-DEU report dated Sept. 10 stated the two were arrested on drug-related charges.
The officers are facing multiple administrative charges, including grave misconduct, grave irregularity in the performance of duty and conduct unbecoming of police officers. (PNA)
