Albayalde sacks Bulacan town police chief, 10 cops for extortion

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde has sacked 10 Bulacan police officers accused of extorting from arrested suspects.

Albayalde said Thursday he was also mulling the reassignment of the relieved San Rafael, Bulacan police officers to areas in need of more personnel.

“Unang-una nafile-an na sila ng kaso and they’ll be filed administrative cases. Also, pinapa-relieve na muna natin sila from Police Regional Office 3,” Albayalde said in a chance interview in Makati City.

(First of all, they were filed with charges and they’ll be filed with administrative cases. Also, we have ordered their relief from Police Regional Office 3 [Central Luzon].)

“Nagbigay na ko ng direktiba as of today na i-relieve muna natin sila temporarily and probably candidate din sila na puwedeng dalhin sa mga lugar na kung saan kulang ang ating mga pulis,” he added.

(I have given them the directive as of today to temporarily relieve them and probably they are also candidates for transfer in areas in need of more policemen.)

According to Counter-Intelligence Task Force commander Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat, the following policemen were sacked:

1. Senior Inspector Wilfredo Dizon Jr.;
2. Senior Police Officer 4 Gary Santos;
3. SPO2 Christopher Aragon;
4. SPO1 Dante Castillo;
5. SPO1 Jophey Cucal;
6. SPO1 Rolando Ignacio Jr;
7. PO3 Dennis De Vera;
8. PO2 Rosauro Enrile;
9. PO2 Nicanor Bautista; and
10. PO2 Chester Say-eo.

Caramat said the 10 policemen have been charged with kidnapping, robbery in band and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for allegedly demanding P50,000 cash in exchange for the release of the victims they have arrested on May 19 for “unknown crime.”

San Rafael police chief Supt. Rizalino Andaya was also relieved from his post for command responsibility. /muf