SPD Public Information Office head Superintendent Ronald Sabug disclosed that their relief was ordered because of a complaint filed by personnel of the Japanese Embassy.
The 10 were identified as Chief Inspector Reynaldo Ularte Baral, Inspector Roger Velayo Sebastian, SPO2 Charlie Fernando Bruno, SPO2 Abelardo de Chavez Dezaliza, SPO1 Chris Penlingon Gabutin, PO3 Ernie Velasco Cabrega, PO3 Michael Cruz Manarang, PO3 Alberto Macoco Sombilon, PO2 Earl Pebenito Esquejo, and PO1 Ronald Acosta Vidal. All are members of the Pasay City police.
Last Aug. 10 Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Yoshi Isaara, filed a diplomatic note with the Department of Foreign Affairs citing the complaint of three Japanese nationals employed at the embassy against members of the Pasay City police.
The three men alleged that members of the Pasay City police attempted to extort money from them in exchange for their immediate release.
Sabug explained that the three Japanese men were invited by the Pasay police for questioning with regard to their alleged involvement in the fixing syndicates conducting business outside the embassy.
Last Aug. 6, Pasay City police conducted an investigation of the reported group of men posing as police officers who preyed on overseas Filipino workers at the DFA area in Pasay City.
The suspects were said to be on board a Toyota Tamarraw FX with plate number PVC929, moving around the area on the lookout for OFW victims. One of the victims, Emiliano Latangga lost $20, a P60,000 gold necklace and a P5,000 gold ring to the suspects.
The suspects accosted Latangga, whom they said had a case with the police, and asked for his valuables in exchange for his freedom.
Latangga was released soon after in Zapote, Alabang.
Two days later, a surveillance team from Pasay City Police managed to track down the suspects’ vehicle in the vicinity of the Japanese Embassy. – Marvin Sy
Suspecting that the suspects were in cahoots with the fixing syndicate outside the embassy, the policemen rounded them all up for questioning.
While in the process of apprehending the suspects, a number of the alleged fixers pointed to three Japanese nationals in the vicinity as their contacts inside the embassy.
A chase ensued and with the cooperation of the embassy‘s security personnel, all three men were apprehended.
Initially, Sabug said that the Japanese Embassy actually appreciated the Pasay Police crackdown on the fixing syndicate.
However, the controversy broke out two days later when the ambassador issued the diplomatic note to the DFA.
The three men alleged that the Pasay Police tried to extort money from them so that they would be exonerated.
An investigation into he complaint was immediately ordered by District Director Gutierrez which resulted in the relief of the 10 policemen.
According to Sabug, the policemen were relieved to ensure that they would not interfere or influence the ongoing investigation being conducted by the SPD.
All 10 policemen were reassigned to the District Headquarters Support Group, the dumping ground for policemen on floating status. – Marvin Sy