6 mulcting Ecija cops, 2 civilians brought to DOJ for inquest

The six policemen and two civilians nabbed for extorting money at a checkpoint in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija were brought to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for inquest proceedings, a Counter-Intelligence Task Force (CITF) official said on Tuesday.

The six Caranglan Municipal Police Station personnel were identified as Senior Police Officer 1 Antonito Otic, Police Officers 3 Danilo Sotelo, Ronald Buncad and Oliver Antonio and Police Officers 2 Rodrigo Edralin and Romeo Nuñez III.

They were arrested in an entrapment operation conducted by the PNP anti-erring unit at around 1:20 a.m. Tuesday.

Police Chief Inspector Jewel Nicanor, chief of the administrative section of the CITF, said they had received reports that police assigned at a checkpoint along a national road in Digdig, Barangay Joson, Caranglan, Nueva Ecija operating 24 hours a day, were extorting money from merchants passing by.

Nicanor said these merchants were coming from Isabela, Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya on their route to Manila.

“Lahat ng mga sasakyan na bumababa sa checkpoint nila they have to give a certain amount of money before they could pass,” Nicanor told reporters after the suspects boarded their vehicle going to DOJ.

“According sa nainterview namin kagabi na trucker at pahinante nakasanayan daw nila nagbibigay sila, nagbabato ng P5 kada daan,” he added.

According to the CITF officials, the drivers’ vehicles are often held if they would not give money.

“[N]akasanayan because pag ‘di raw po sila nagbibigay hinahabol daw po sila, hino-hold po sila in the meantime e yung mga dala nila perishable goods kaya napipilitan po sila magbigay,” Nicanor explained.

Despite the measly P2,240 recovered from the checkpoint during their entrapment operation, Nicanor said they are determined to zero in on these erring policemen.

“Ang order sa amin since 2017 is to make all roads safe from all illegal activities of PNP personnel at bilang tugon isinagawa natin ito after validation,” Nicanor said.

“Even if this is a small amount we consider it as a grave violation cause sa maliliit na bagay nagsisimula ang malalaking bagay,” he added.

Nicanor said the suspects violated Republic Act (RA) 10591 or the Firearms and Ammunitions Act after authorities discovered two firearms without license. He said they also violated RA or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

PNP Chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa earlier said the six personnel would be dismissed immediately from service.

READ: Bato likens rogue cops to abusive priests: Problem is the person, not the organization