Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso relieved nine ranking Manila police officers for allegedly extorting money from illegal vendors in Binondo.
Domagoso said they conducted a secret roving on Sunday night and found out that vendors were being allowed to ply their usual trade in the already cleared area of Divisoria. The scene was videotaped.
The relieved officers in Manila Police District (MPD) Precinct 11 were identified as Lt. Col. Antonietto Eric Mendoza, Maj. Robinson Maranion, Maj. Alden Panganiban, Cpt. Jerry Garces, Cpt. Bernardino Venturina, Cpt. Manuel Calleja, Lt. Jerry Campo, Lt. Maricel Pili and Lt. Maribel Casayuran.
“Here is a challenge in our efforts to make the impossible possible. We need to sustain it. It seems that at certain times of the day, pagtalikod ko, may ilang mga indibidwal, uniformed personnel who are engaging and interacting with so-called ‘organizers’ and barangay officials,” Domagoso said.
“Saan ka nakakita, utusan ng chairman ay colonel, major, PCP commander. Either na hindi nila nakikita o wala silang ginagawa. I will not act without evidence,” he added.
The new police officers of MPD Precinct 11 are Lt. Col. Noel Calderon Aliño, Major Salvador Bagne Tangdol and Captain Manolito Vedana Flores.
The new mayor also warned all MPD officials that he will not hesitate to also recommend their removal from office if they will not cooperate fully with the effort of the city government to give back the streets to the people of Manila.
“They (the new Precinct 11 officials) are now properly guided by General Danao. I will not stop, I will not hesitate. The people of Manila deserve better from the city government of Manila,” he said.
“‘Di ko na papangalanan. Poposanan ko na lang,” he added. (Erma Edera)