10 Angono cops relieved over student’s abuse, extortion allegations

LUCENA CITY – The regional director of Police Regional Office 4A (PRO-4A) has ordered the immediate relief and disarming of 10 policemen in Angono, Rizal, following complaints from a criminology student alleging evidence planting, robbery, extortion, and illegal arrest.

“As an immediate administrative measure, the subject personnel were administratively relieved, disarmed of their issued firearms, and placed under restrictive custody at the Administrative Holding Section of the Rizal Police Provincial Office,” Police Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas, PRO-4A regional director, said in a statement Wednesday.

Lucas noted that the action was taken “without prejudice to the filing of appropriate administrative and criminal charges, should the evidence so warrant.”

He did not disclose the identities of the 10 officers.

The case arose from a complaint filed on Feb. 10 with the National Police Commission (Napolcom) by 24-year-old criminology student Nestor Makabenta. He accused 10 Angono police officers, all from the police anti-drug unit, of extortion, robbery, illegal arrest, and abuse.

Makabenta alleged that on Nov. 10, 2025, he was stopped by plainclothes officers during an anti-drug operation, forcibly taken into their vehicle, robbed of a gold ring, and demanded P100,000 for his release.

He claimed he was beaten and threatened while in custody, and that his sister sent P50,000 via e-wallet to one of the officers. Despite this, he said he remained detained until the case against him was dismissed on Jan. 27.

Makabenta also alleged a prior arrest on Nov. 1, 2024, under similar circumstances, and said he was released only after his estranged father paid P100,000 to the arresting officers. He believes he was repeatedly targeted due to his father’s alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

Napolcom Executive Officer Rafael Calinisan said the 10 policemen are likely to face formal administrative charges for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

The commission is also considering criminal charges for alleged planting of evidence, robbery, extortion, and illegal arrest, Calinisan added.

Lucas assured that PRO-4A will fully cooperate with Napolcom’s investigation.

“We are committed to transparency and truth, and we will not tolerate any form of misconduct, abuse of authority, or actions that undermine public trust in the Philippine National Police,” Lucas said.

READ: 2 cops under investigation for alleged abuses – PNP

“Any personnel found to have violated the law and PNP rules will be dealt with accordingly. There will be no whitewash, and no one is above the law,” he added. /coa