The entire force of Binangonan police in Rizal is now under investigation over possible involvement in systematic extortion activities which were exposed after two civilian assets were arrested in an entrapment operation in front of the municipal hall last Tuesday.
Police Gen. Debold Sinas, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said Binangonan police chief Police Lt. Col. Ferdinand Ancheta is also under investigation for command responsibility after the complainant identified six of Ancheta’s personnel as the ones who forced him to shell out money in exchange for the release of his impounded vehicle.
“I will not let this incident pass without implementing appropriate criminal and administrative action against those involved,” said Sinas.
Police Col. Thomas Frias, director of the PNP-Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG), said his men launched the operation after they received a complaint that some Binangonan policemen have been extorting money.
Frias said Albert Domingo, alias “Joel;” and Pablo Dolfo, alias “Botchok,” were collared after receiving the money in front of the Binangonan Municipal Hall.
“Those arrested turned out to be civilian assets of the Binangonan Municipal Police Station,” said Frias.
Frias said they also discovered during the investigation that a policeman who was supposed to be locked up in jail was outside of his detention cell and was serving as the lookout during the payoff.
He was identified as Police Corporal Archieval Perez who is facing a non-bailable offense of Infidelity in the Custody of Prisoners. Perez was monitored to be using two cellular phones during the entire transaction.
IMEG operatives identified the six members of the Binangonan police station, through the help of the complainant, as Police Senior Master Sgt. Randy Andanar; Police Staff Sgts. Joel Acosta and Joe Sevillena; and Police Corporals Allan Alvarez, Marson Tabayan, and EW Armesnis.
“They were already placed under monitoring and investigation,” said Frias. (Aaron Recuenco)
