Cop chief relieved for extortion of Koreans

MANILA, Philippines – The chief of police of Angeles City in Pampanga was relieved from his post yesterday over the robbery and extortion of three South Koreans, which was allegedly perpetrated by his subordinates.

Senior Superintendent Sidney Villaflor was replaced by Senior Superintendent Jose Hidalgo Jr., according to Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino, Central Luzon police director.

Villaflor said the relief was meant to pave the way for a fair and thorough probe.

Aquino earlier relieved Chief Inspector Wendell Arinas and Senior Inspector Rolando Yutuc, station commander and deputy station commander of the Angeles City police Station 5, respectively.

Also relieved and placed under investigation were Police Officers 3 Gomerson Evangelista, Arnold Nagayo and Roentjen Domingo, PO2s Ruben Rodriguez and Richard King Agapito as well as PO1s Jayson Ibe and Mark Joseph Pineda.

The policemen allegedly took the bags and other personal belongings of the three South Koreans, two of them identified as Park Min-hoon and Lee Ki-hoon, during a raid on the house where the victims stayed when they were on vacation in the country last month.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa had said the raid was on the pretext that the South Koreans were involved in illegal online gaming.

The victims were brought to the police station where they were allegedly beaten up. The police officers released the South Koreans after the victims paid a total of P310,000 in cash.