PNP anti-cybercrime team’s spox sacked over Makati raid vlog

MANILA, Philippines — The spokesperson of the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG)  has been relieved from the post over a controversial vlog on a raid against a lending company.

ACG Director Brig. Gen. Sidney Hernia said in a Viber message to reporters on Thursday that Capt. Michelle Sabino “will be doing other admin duties at HQS (headquarters) ACG while we are looking for somebody who can take over her job as spokesperson.”

PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group logo. INQUIRER FILES

Sabino’s removal from her position stemmed from an October 20 police operation against a lending company in Makati City that Rendon Labador featured in his Facebook Live.

READ: PAOCC files cases vs 35 individuals in Makati online ‘lending scam’

Labrador’s live stream showed the faces of Golden Koi Lending Co. Inc. employees, drawing flak from their relatives and the public.

On Tuesday, October 24, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz said that the ACG did not inform officials that Labador and other media members would be present during the raid.

READ: PNP to look into possible violations in vlogger’s livestreamed police operation

Sabino explained that the ACG only allowed the vlogger and other members of the media access to the location after the police operation.

Labador said it was he who initiated the collaboration with the ACG.