Marbil relieves NCRPO, ACG heads over controversies about a Pogo raid

PNP chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil — File photo from GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The directors of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) were relieved from their posts for ten days.

This development comes following the October 29 raid on Century Peak Tower in Ermita, Manila.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Philippine National Police (PNP) Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo confirmed that PNP chief General Rommel Marbil ordered the administrative relief of NCRPO Acting Director Maj. Gen. Sidney Hernia and ACG Director Maj. Gen. Ronnie Cariaga.

On October 29, the ACG enforced a cyber warrant at the Century Peak Tower, alleging that it housed a Philippine offshore gaming operator.

READ: PNP-ACG led Manila Pogo hub raid – NCRPO

Following the raid, Hernia and 14 other officers were accused of extorting money from the foreigners who were apprehended during the operation.

READ: NCRPO chief denies claims of extortion during Manila Pogo raid

The NCRPO chief denied the allegations on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, three ACG personnel were relieved from their post for reportedly twisting and covering the building’s closed circuit television cameras.

READ: 3 cops relieved for tampering with CCTV cameras in raided Manila Pogo

In a statement, ACG said the air conditioning system at Century Peak Tower was turned off while officers were gathering evidence, compelling them to walk without their shirts “creating an unprofessional appearance.”

“This situation led them to twist and cover only the hallway cameras, while the cameras in the workstations where the devices were located remained operational,” it added.

The police leadership, however, maintains that the operation was “legitimate.”

Fajardo said, “Pinaninidigan ng PNP na walang mali doon sa naging police operation.”

(The PNP stands firm that there was nothing wrong with the police operation.)

“However, during the implementation of the cyber warrant, there were operational-related issues that were raised by the subject of the police operation,” she added.

Fajardo claimed the relief order was “not a form of punishment” and is only meant, instead, to allow an impartial investigation into whether or not the police operational procedures were violated.

“Another allegation is that some of the tenants were harassed; some of the tenants were not able to do their regular business there. These are the things we have to review – whether there was any deviation from the normal police operations,” she noted.

According to Fajardo, an investigative committee will look into the allegations with Acting Deputy Chief for Operations Lt. Gen. Michael John Dubria as its head.

NCRPO Deputy Director Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Tamondong and ACG Chief of Staff Col. Vina Guzman are the designated officers-in-charge of the two units while Hernia and Cariaga are relieved.