8 Pasay cops sacked for ‘kotong’ after motorist got them on-cam

“I’d rather have a few men, as long as they don’t cause me headaches.”

Thus said Southern Police District director Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona as he ordered sanctions against the entire police team manning a precinct in Pasay City on Tuesday for alleged extortion.

Eight policemen from the Pasay Police Community Precinct 2, including the commander, were relieved of their posts after they were caught on camera demanding P10,000 from a motorist at their office.

Placed under preventive suspension and facing dismissal proceedings are Senior Police Officer 1 Francisco Aganan, PO3 Dennis Cabrera, PO1 Jeru Hernandez, PO1 Romeo Dimaculangan, PO1 Sunny Mercado, PO1 Reagan Recasio and PO1 Ryan Guzman.

Their immediate superior, Inspector Angel Aguas, who took over only about a week ago, was also ordered relieved under the principle of command responsibility.

The policemen are also facing complaints of illegal arrest, physical injury and threats after driver Apolinario Cababan, 33, alleged that they arrested him for no valid reason as he was passing through Estrella Street on his motorcycle on October 10.

According to Cababan’s complaint, the officers brought him to the precinct, took his cell phone, watch and cash amounting to P7,000, apart from confiscating his motorcycle.

Cababan said the officers asked him to cough up P10,000 if he wanted the bike back.

The motorist returned to the precinct on November 3, but this time with a hidden microphone and camera provided by the TV5 public affairs show “T3,” which he had earlier approached for help.

In that second encounter, the policemen were recorded repeating their demand for P10,000.

Cababan later presented the clips to the Pasay City police chief, Superintendent Samuel Turla, who on Monday ordered the filing of charges against the eight officers.