Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar. INQUIRER file photo / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Guillermo Eleazar on Saturday ordered the Southern Police District to investigate the alleged extortion activity being done at a police checkpoint along Andrews Avenue in Pasay City.
Eleazar gave the order after people who passed by the checkpoint complained of the alleged extortion activity in the area. According to the complaints, police officers manning the checkpoint would stop motorists for allegedly disregarding traffic signs and would then immediately issue traffic violation tickets.
Another complainant added that a police officer at the checkpoint even threatened to arrest him for allegedly disrespecting the police officers.
“This complaint was forwarded to me and I personally watched the videos that were posted on social media,” Eleazar said in a statement.
“I have already ordered the Southern Police District, through the Regional Director of the NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office) to look into this,” he added.
Eleazar said authorities will not hesitate to mete out sanctions should the police officers manning the checkpoint are found to be abusing their authority.
“Noon pa man, mahigpit ang aking bilin sa ating mga kapulisan na maging maayos ang pakikitungo sa ating mga kababayan kaya hindi katanggap-tanggap ang pagsisiga-sigaan, pambabastos at pananamantala sa ating mga kababayan,” he said.
(Even before, I have reminded our police officers to be courteous, that is why intimidation, disrespect, and abuses are not acceptable.)