Radyo Inquirer anchor tags 3 cops for vehicle’s loss

MANILA, Philippines – Three lawmen were stripped of their firearms and face several charges after they were identified by Radyo Inquirer anchor Arnel Ignacio as those who took his white Porsche last Saturday, police officials said Friday.

Superintendent Edwin Butacan, Highway Patrol Group (HPG) spokesman said Police Officers 3 Neil Pono and Levy Llagas and PO1 Joel Lasala were relieved of their duties as HPG officers and restricted to police quarters after Ignacio sought help from police.

Ignacio said he was flagged down along C5 corner Doña Julia Vargas Avenue in Libis by the three policemen who were on board an HPG mobile (875). He was with a woman whom he identified as Lulu Paraoan.

Ignacio said they claimed that his car was illegally brought into the country via the Subic Freeport Zone.

The police officers seemed drunk and smelled of liquor, Ignacio claimed.

Butacan said Ignacio’s allegation would be part of police investigation although it would be hard to prove days after the incident.

Ignacio said he told the policemen that his car had documents and that they were verified to be registered under his name. He said he was then asked to produce P100,000 so that they would keep quiet.

Ignacio, saying that he would need to go back home for the money, was accompanied home by the three policemen and Paraoan. He said that he paid P50,000 to the police and decided to file charges against them after.

“Mabuti na ang maraming may alam [It’s better that more people know in case] I get threats,” said Ignacio, adding that he intended to file “all possible complaints” against the police who accosted him.

Ignacio said he felt humiliated and exposed when the three HPG officers flagged him down and told him in public that his car was to be impounded.

HPG director Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said that the three policemen would be charged with an administrative case of grave misconduct and criminal charges of robbery and extortion. He added that due process would be followed and that the policemen would be given a chance to file counteraffidavits.

Calling what the three erring policemen did as a breach of trust, Espina said that they “will never tolerate these kinds of errant behavior and grave misconduct and misdeeds in police.”

Espina added that they were also looking into the possibility that Paraoan could be part of the policemen’s plan as she kept on asking Ignacio not to file charges and was very curious as to the amount he gave the three law enforcers.