MANILA, Philippines - Three policemen assigned to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in South Cotabato are in hot water for allegedly conducting a raid on a suspected gambling den without proper authority.
CIDG director Chief Superintendent Benjamin Magalong ordered the administrative relief of the three police officers, namely SPO3 Gerry Templonuevo and PO3s Pablo Jugos and Apollo Albert Ilao.
According to reports reaching Magalong’s office, the three CIDG men swooped down on the suspected gambling den in Koronadal City last March 25 although they had no search warrant and were not authorized by their superiors.
Magalong learned that the policemen apprehended the suspected operator of the gambling den but did not take him to the police station but to another place where they allegedly extorted money from him.
Magalong ordered Senior Inspector Jesson Mocnangan to place the three police officers under investigation and if the evidence warrants, to file criminal charges against them and proceed with their summary dismissal proceedings.
Magalong said he has been implementing programs to get rid of scalawags in the CIDG as part of the CODE P (Competence, Organizational Development and Excellence and Professionalism) program of Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima.
Recently, Magalong announced the arrest of the CIDG chief in Pampanga for allegedly selling shabu confiscated from suspected drug traffickers.