PNP chief wants cop in extortion racket axed

pasay city checkpoint

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar. INQUIRER file photo / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, chief of the Philippine National Police, wants a police officer allegedly involved in bogus antinarcotic operations to hold and extort money from their victims dismissed from service.

Eleazar on Sunday tasked the PNP internal affairs service to initiate summary dismissal proceedings against Pat. Wilfredo Mindanao, a member of the police security group.

Manila police district (MPD) personnel arrested Mindanao and his alleged cohort Romeo Aday on Friday, who posed as a National Bureau of Investigation agent to pull off the fake anti-illegal drug operation.

Aday allegedly “arrested” a man for possession of shabu (crystal meth) and brought him to Mindanao’s home in Paco, Manila. The cop and his cohort then allegedly demanded P50,000 from the victim for his release.

A witness immediately sought the help of the MPD’s Paz precinct whose agents arrested the suspects and rescued the victim.

“I am warning those police officers who will continue to undermine our mandate and erode the institution, you will be caught and made to face the consequences of your wrongful actions,” Eleazar said.

—JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE

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