Metro Manila police chief Director Geary Barias has suspended for 90 days without pay five Manila policemen accused of extorting P20,000 from a chef of a five-star hotel last April 19.
Barias also disarmed Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, Inspector Nelson Lagasca, Senior Police Officer 1 Nestor David, PO3 Wilson Gavino, and PO2 Roderick Lopena.
Christian Kalaw charged the five Manila policemen, all assigned at the District Mobile Patrol Unit (DMPU), with robbery, grave threat, robbery-extortion or kotong and physical injuries.
Records showed that Kalaw was seated inside his parked car at the corner of Pablo Ocampo Sr. street and Taft Avenue at about 10:30 p.m. last April 19 when Gavino and Lopena approached him and accused him of parking in a “no parking zone.”
Gavino boarded Kalaw’s car and asked for the vehicle’s registration papers while accusing him of using illegal drugs.
They brought Kalaw to a hospital for medical examination. While at the parking lot, David and Lopena grabbed Kalaw and forced him to swallow a substance suspected to be methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu to make him test positive for drug use.
Kalaw did not file a formal complaint but his father, Bobby, posted his ordeal on YouTube, which prompted Barias to order an investigation.
MPD director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales found probable cause for grave misconduct against the accused and recommended the holding of summary dismissal proceedings against them. – Non Alquitran