Muntinlupa's top cop faces dismissal

MANILA, Philippines - Muntinlupa City police chief Senior Superintendent Elmer Jamias could lose his job if he is found guilty of issuing a Philippine National Police (PNP) identification card to a civilian, officials said yesterday.

Metro Manila police chief Director Roberto Rosales said Jamias will also be charged with serious irregularities in the performance of duties for issuing an ID card to Joel Tordillos who, along with two local policemen, were accused by a businessman of robbery-extortion.

“There is a probable cause to charge him for such offense for issuing a PNP ID to a civilian with the rank of police inspector,” Rosales said.

Rosales said he will ask clearance from Malacañang for Jamias to be dismissed from the police service, he being a presidential appointee.

He recommended that Jamias, SPO1 Alfredo Mendoza and PO3 Celestino de los Santos be relieved from their posts at the Muntinlupa City police while the cases against them are being heard by the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division (RIDMD).

RIDMD chief Superintendent Matthew Baccay said Mendoza and De los Santos went to the junk shop of complainant Oscar Espinosa last March 5 and inquired about the six motor engines on display. When Espinosa failed to produce documents for three of the engines, the two policemen allegedly threatened to arrest him.

Baccay said Mendoza demanded P45,000 for each motor engine so they would not be confiscated. After a series of negotiations, the amount was lowered to P20,000 and Espinosa handed over half of the amount to Mendoza, who also ordered the businessman to give them two sacks of rice monthly.

Four days later, however, Tordillos called up Espinosa, claiming that he would collect the balance. Espinosa coordinated with Rosales, who instructed Superintendent Leo Francisco, head of the Regional Police Intelligence and Operations Unit (RPIOU), to conduct an entrapment operation against the suspects.

The three men were arrested after Mendoza received the P10,000 marked money from Espinosa. Mendoza and De los Santos yielded firearms without gun ban exemptions from the Commission on Elections.

Seized from Tordillos was a police ID card identifying him as police inspector and duly signed by Jamias.

Aside from robbery-extortion charges, Mendoza and De los Santos were charged with gun ban violation while Tordillos with usurpation of authority before the Muntinlupa City prosecutors’ office.

A report from the PNP Crime Laboratory in Camp Crame showed Mendoza tested positive for ultraviolet fluorescent powder, meaning he touched the marked money.

Chief Superintendent Mike Laurel, chief of staff of the National Capital Regional Police Office, said the RIDMD would summon Jamias this week to present his side on the issuance of an ID card to Tordillos.