Manila Police District (MPD) Director PBGen Andre Dizon has dismissed and relieved the head and members of the MPD-District Police Intelligence Operations Unit (DPIOU).
"Nakakalungkot dahil sa kabila ng ating pagpupunyagi na maging maayos ang serbisyo ng MPD [at] PNP, meron pa rin tayong mga kasamahan na pinipiling gumawa ng masama," Dizon told reporters.
The dismissal of the unit members follows the implication of five of its personnel, along with a civilian, in a robbery extortion case. The incident took place at the computer shop in Sampaloc, Manila.
PBGen Dizon stated that the 22 personnel of the said unit, led by PCPT Rufino Casagan, have also been disarmed and are currently in a holding area.
Among the police officers relieved or suspended by PBGen Dizon are:
- PSSG Ryann Paculan
- PSSG Jan Erwin Isaac
- PCpl Jon Cabucol
- Pat Jhon Lester Pagar
- Pat. Jeremiah Pascual
- Menay Martinez
According to the report provided by Police Lieutenant Colonel Wilson Villaruel, the station commander of MPD Station 4, the aforementioned officers were identified in the extortion incident that occurred at around 11:20 PM on July 11.
Under the guise of civilians, they entered a computer shop owned by Herminigildo Dela Cruz on Matimyas Street.
To avoid arrest, Dela Cruz was demanded to pay ₱40,000 and was further subjected to weekly extortion. Before leaving, the officers took ₱3,500 in cash from the counter, as well as the hard disk drive containing CCTV footage of the premises.
In response to this incident, PBGen Dizon warned all unit chiefs against engaging in corrupt activities, as they will be removed from their positions and face legal consequences.
"Hindi ito pwede sa aming hanay, hindi ito pwede na pamarisan, kaya hindi tayo papayag na hindi magkaroon ng hustisya," he added.
