9 cops relieved, under probe for extortion of Koreans

MANILA, Philippines – Nine policemen from Angeles City, Pampanga have been relieved and placed under investigation for the extortion of three South Koreans who were on vacation in the country last December.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa disclosed yesterday that the police officers were placed under restrictive custody.

Two of the victims identified as Park Min-hoon and Lee Ki-hoon executed affidavits detailing their ordeal.

He said the victims have returned to South Korea after executing the affidavits.

“We will use their affidavits for the administrative cases so these policemen will be dismissed,” Dela Rosa said.

Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, Central Luzon police director, identified the relieved policemen as Chief Insp. Wendell Arinas, station commander;  Senior Insp. Rolando Yutuc, deputy station chief; Police Officer 3 Gomerson Evangelista, PO3 Arnold Nagayo, PO3 Roentjen Domingo, PO3 Ruben Rodriguez, PO2 Richard King Agapito, PO1 Jayson Ibe and PO1 Mark Joseph Pineda, all from Angeles City Police Station 5.

They were relieved from their posts over the alleged robbery extortion that happened at around 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 30 at Friendship Plaza.

Dela Rosa said the policemen raided the place where the victims stayed on the pretext that the South Koreans, who were in the country to play golf, were involved in illegal online gaming.

The Koreans stayed at the Estate subdivision near the so-called Korea Town near Clark Freeport.

“When they did not find any evidence, they ransacked the place,” said Dela Rosa.

A police report said the suspects took the victims’ bags, shoes, a gold ring, a speaker and an undetermined amount of cash. The victims werebrought to the police station where the policemen allegedly beat them up.

The police officers released the South Koreans after the victims paid P310,000 in cash.

Newly installed Angeles City Station 5 head Chief Insp. Rolando Doroja said the erring policemen were disarmed and relieved after they were accused of extortion by a South Korean national.

Doroja said the Koreans identified the cops through photos that investigators showed to them.

He said the Koreans sought the help of the Korean embassy in Manila after paying the erring policemen.

The Korean embassy reported the incident to PNP officials at Camp Crame and the Central Luzon police were ordered to investigate the allegations.

Doroja said the erring policemen were relieved last Jan. 6.

The residence of slain Korean business executive Jee Ick-joo who was kidnapped by another group of policemen in October last year is also within the jurisdiction of Station 5.

But Doroja said he was not aware of any member of Station 5 being involved in Jee’s case.

Dela Rosa also challenged yesterday the newly promoted police chief superintendents to show they deserved the rank by improving their performance.

President Duterte has approved the promotion of six more chief superintendents or police generals assigned to key positions in the PNP Regional Police Offices and Directorial Staff.

Dela Rosa formalized the promotion of the six police officials during simple ceremonies at the PNP National Headquarters at Camp Crame.

Promoted to the rank of chief superintendent were Jonas Binamira Calleja of the Directorate for Logistics, Jonathan Viernes Ablang of Western Mindanao (PRO 9), Leonardo Mangada Cesneros of Negros Island (PRO 18), Reynaldo Guban Biay of Ilocos Region (PRO 1), Roberto Torres Tabian of Eastern Visayas (PRO 8) and Arnel Bondilles Escobal of Western Visayas (PRO 6).

Duterte approved the promotions upon the recommendation of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ismael Sueno and based on the evaluation of the Senior Officers Placement and Promotion Board (SOPPB).

Dela Rosa congratulated the new senior officers and reiterated the directive of President Duterte to stamp out crime, illegal drugs and corruption within three to six months.

“I hope you will go back to your respective units to inspire a (police force) more committed to ideals of service, honor and justIce,” he added.

Apostolic congress driver

Two members of Manila Police District (MPD)’s Sta. Ana station allegedly extorted P2,000 from a driver who transported delegates of the World Apostolic Congress on Mercy (WACOM) in Manila last Saturday.

Bro. Ariel Manga of the Christ the King College (CKC) in Calbayog City, Samar, told radio station dzBB said that two policemen – PO2 Jamses Rivera and PO1 Dennis Kias – on board an MPD mobile patrol car stopped the truck being driven by Jun Porcare, driver of CKC, at the corner of Pedro Gil St. and Osmeña Highway between 3 and 4 a.m. last Jan. 21.

Porcare said that the truck was then transporting musical instruments used by the CKC choir that performed at a WACOM event in Manila.

He said the policemen, whose identities were not immediately known, did not cite any specific violation but said the area is accident prone.

The truck driver claimed that the policemen demanded P5,000 for his alleged violation but the amount was later reduced to P2,000, which he later paid.

“Sabi niya sa akin, pare mabigat ito (he told me, this is big), P5,000 ito,” he told dzBB, referring to the said violation.

Senior Supt. Bartolome Bustamante, chief of the MPD’s directorial staff, confirmed that the policemen involved in the alleged extortion case are members of the Sta. Ana station.

He said they would recommend to church officials to file a complaint against the erring policemen.

Bustamante also expressed frustration over the incident, considering that the MPD provided security for the WACOM delegates in Intramuros and in the University of Sto. Tomas.

“We guarded them for three to four days, and then all of a sudden those who guarded them did this,” Bustamante said. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Rey Galupo, Ghio Ong, Ding Cervantes