Police exec acquitted in solicitation case

The Sandiganbayan has acquitted a former Philippine National Police official in Caraga accused of soliciting P3,000 from a police officer whose administrative case he was hearing in January 2011.

In a 16-page decision dated Aug. 18, the court’s First Division cited the “dubious credibility” of the lone witness who hurled the allegations against Senior Supt. Rodolfo Dasmariñas, then the summary hearing officer of the Police Regional Office 13.

Senior Insp. Benny Esparagoza complained that Dasmariñas allegedly dropped hints about financial problems when he gave him a ride.

When Esparagoza gave him P3,000, the hearing officer allegedly told him not to tell his wife about it.

At the time, Dasmariñas was handling the qualified theft and grave misconduct complaint filed against Esparagoza, the commander of Butuan City Police Station 5, for taking an M-16 rifle issued to a subordinate. —Vince F. Nonato