Binangonan top cop axed for ‘negligence’ in extortion racket of personnel

PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas. (Photo from PNP PIO)

MANILA, Philippines — The police chief of Binangonan Municipal Police Station was relieved for alleged negligence after some of his personnel were accused of being involved in extortion activities, Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday.

PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas said Calabarzon director Police Brigadier General Felipe Natividad ordered the relief of Binangonan Police chief Lieutenant Colonel Ferdinand Ancheta, who was already placed under investigation after his men were accused of being involved in extortion activities.

“Iyong chief of police doon sa Binangonan, nag-report iyong regional director natin si [Brig.] Gen. Felipe Natividad, pinag-relieve din niya pending investigation for negligence kasi nangyari po iyon sa loob ng istasyon nila,” Sinas told reporters at PNP-Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) Headquarters in Quezon City, responding to a query about updates on the extortion issue at Binangonan police.

(Our regional director Brig. Gen. Felipe Natividad, relieved the chief of police in Binangonan, pending investigation for negligence because it happened at the police station.)

Police said Major Amadeo Baby Estrella III, former deputy chief of police of Antipolo station, will replace Ancheta as Binangonan’s chief of police.

In a previous report, the PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) nabbed Binangonan police assets Albert Domingo alias Joel, and Pablo Dolfo alias Botchok, after police received a complaint that the suspects are extorting cash from a victim in exchange for an impounded vehicle.

Upon arrival at the police station, the arrested civilian assets identified their accomplices at Binangonan police as Police Senior Master Sergeant Randy Andanar, Police Senior Staff Sergeant Joel Acosta, Police Senior Staff Sergeant Joe Sevillena, Police Corporal Allan Alvarez, Police Corporal Marson Tayaban, and Police Corporal Lew Armesis.

JPV