Bato lambasts Angeles cops over extort on Koreans
PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa orders Angeles City policemen linked to the robbery-extortion of three South Korean tourists to do push-ups during his visit to Camp Tomas Pepito in Angeles, Pampanga yesterday. Photo by MIGUEL DE GUZMAN
ANGELES CITY , Philippines – An angry Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa showed up yesterday to castigate the entire police force of this city and personally see seven policemen accused of manhandling and extorting money from three Korean tourists here last Dec. 30.
This developed as the Department of Justice (DOJ) summoned police Supt. Rafael Dumlao and other suspects in the kidnap-slay of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo last October for a reinvestigation of the case yesterday.
Dela Rosa flared up upon seeing the seven Angeles City cops accused of another kidnap for ransom case, also involving South Koreans.
“Gusto ko kayo i-firing squad ngayon! (I want you to face firing squad right now),” the PNP chief blurted out to the accused cops. “Nakakahiya kayo, nagpulis kayo para magsindikato. Ako’y hiyang hiya sa ginawa ninyo (Shame on you. You joined the police force just to become crime syndicates. I’m so ashamed of what you’ve done.)”
He then ordered them to do push-ups for almost 10 minutes.
Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said the accused cops were relieved on Jan. 6 and placed under restrictive custody of the Angeles police.
Pamintuan attended Dela Rosa’s meeting with the local cops at the city police headquarters at Camp Pepito Tomas in Barangay Sto. Domingo, Angeles City.
All disarmed and placed under investigation, the accused cops were: former Station 5 head Chief Insp. Wendell Arinas, his deputy Senior Insp. Rolando Yutuc, Police Officers 3 Gomerson Evangelista, Arnold Nagayo and Roentjen Domingo, PO2s Ruben Rodriguez and Richard King Agapito and PO1s Jayson Ibe and Mark Joseph Pineda.
The relieved cops allegedly carted off personal belongings of the three South Koreans, identified as Park Min-hoon, Lee Ki-hun and Lee Jun-nyung, when they raided the Koreans’ place, purportedly for illegally operating online gambling.
The cops allegedly kidnapped the three Koreans from their residence at Friendship Plaza Subdivision, Barangay Pampang, Angeles City.
The cops then detained the foreigners at Station 5 and beat them up. The police officers released the South Koreans only after the three paid a total of P310,000 cash.
Dela Rosa asked the accused cops the basis for their operation. One of them said it was a legitimate operation, supposedly to catch the Koreans doing illegal online gambling.
“Ganoon na ba ka-legitimate ang mangbugbog ng Koreano? (Is it that legitimate to beat up Koreans?)” he asked the accused cops, not buying their argument that it was a legitimate police operation.
The PNP chief then warned the entire Angeles City police office: “Pag may nangyari pang kidnapping na ganito, mananagot kayo sa akin (If this kidnapping happens again, you’ll answer to me).”
He told the entire city police to do some soul searching, adding: “Magsimba kayo at magkumpisal upang matakot sa Diyos (Go to mass and confess your sins, so you’ll fear God.)” – With Emmanuel Tupas, Edu Punay
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