PNP sacks entire CIDT in Batangas over extortion

MANILA, Philippines—In a rare move, Philippine National Police Director General Nicanor Bartolome has sacked the entire Criminal Investigation and Detection Team of Batangas province for allegedly extorting money from apprehended persons in exchange for their release.

The PNP said there have been several complaints that the operatives of the Batangas CIDT headed by Chief Inspector Jay Agcaoili were into kidnapping and extortion (“hulidap”) of suspected lawbreakers.

Bartolome acted after seven Batangas CIDT personnel were caught red-handed with the P400,000 ransom paid by the family of a college student who was apprehended last Wednesday for alleged illegal drug use.

The CIDT policemen  originally demanded P1 million for the release of Christina Rodriguez, but the family was able to negotiate and bring the amount down to P400,000.

In a statement on Saturday, Bartolome said he has ordered the relief and investigation of “all personnel assigned with the Batangas CIDT under Chief Inspector Jay Agcaoili.”

The policemen were reassigned to the Police Holding and Administrative Unit  in Camp Crame to make sure they are available to face criminal and administrative investigation, he added.

The PNP chief also ordered Agcaoili’s immediate superior, Senior Superintendent Bernabe Balba who is the commander of the  4th Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) to explain in writing.

On Thursday, Bartolome himself instructed Calabarzon (Police Regional Office 4A) regional director, Chief Superintendent James Melad and newly designated Intelligence Group (IG)director, Chief Superintendent Charles Calima Jr. to investigate reports that Batangas CIDT personnel were negotiating with the family of Rodriguez for her release from detention in exchange for P1 million.

Rodriguez, a sophomore student at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasay, was reportedly snatched by armed men at a bus terminal in Pasay City late in the afternoon on Wednesday, April 18.

The victim told investigators from the PRO4A and IG that her abductors brought her to the Batangas CIDT office in Camp Miguel Malvar, Batangas City, where she was held captive until her rescue on Friday evening.

Rodriguez’ family was instructed to bring the P400,000 ransom to the Batangas CIDT office.

In an entrapment and rescue operation, 80 pieces of P500 bills dusted with ultra-violet powder were included in the ransom.

Melad reported that around 11 p.m. on Friday, PRO4A and IG operatives in coordination with Batangas police  authorities safely rescued Rodriguez and arrested seven Batangas CIDT personnel.

They were identified as SPO3 Emmanuel Rabe, SPO2 Apollo Marasigan, SPO1 Maximo Catedulla, SPO1 Donnabelle Campos, PO2 Jeffrey Malibiran, PO2 Jose Wally Banaag and civilian utilityman Celso Ansino.

PO1 Novel Calo of the Silang, Cavite, Municipal Police Station was also among those caught in the entrapment.

The authorities were following up on the identity of two others referred to as “Sir Athan” and “Sir Jimmy” who are believed to be part of the syndicate.

According to Melad, the PRO4A-IG raiding team recovered from one of the arrested CIDT investigators a draft spot report falsely indicating that Rodriguez was arrested in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, at 2:30 p.m. on Friday.

Melad also took note of the highly suspicious presence of PO1 Calo of the Silang police station.