Espina axes 3 SPD cops

MANILA, Philippines - Three rookie policemen from the Southern Police District (SPD) were dismissed yesterday by National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Leonardo Espina for extortion and infidelity in the custody of a prisoner.

Their dismissal brings to 73 the number of police officers Espina has sacked since he assumed the NCRPO’s top post in September 2012. Espina also demoted 19 policemen and suspended 72 others for various infractions. He vowed he would not allow the misdeed of a “very few” to compromise the quality of service rendered by majority of the NCRPO’s police officers.

Police Officers 1 Jason Tiamson, Tristan Mariz Gutierrez and Ablason Gabriente comprise the fifth batch of police officers Espina has dismissed since he became NCRPO chief.

Tiamson and Gutierrez were accused by Korean Kim Byung Woo of robbery-extortion on July 19, 2012.

Kim said the two policemen reportedly barged into his house and harassed him and his employer, Alexander Tan. He said they demanded to see his business permit and license and then told him to pay P20,000 when he failed to produce the documents.

Kim said he gave the money to Tiamson and Gutierrez, who reportedly also took his Olympus camera and Ray-Ban sunglasses.

Gabriente, on the other hand, was on duty when detainee Jenny Lazaro, who was charged with qualified theft, escaped from his custody on April 27, 2009.

SPO2 Leonilo Magallanes, also of the SPD, was demoted. The NCRPO’s public information personnel said they will have to check the reason for the demotion with the district’s legal services unit.

Espina also suspended six others: SPO2 Rolando Cartalla (Quezon City Police District) for falsification of public documents; PO3 Sancho Dichoson Jr. (Manila Police District) for violation of Republic Act 9262, a law penalizing violence against women and their children; and PO1 Ryan King Gonzalez (SPD), PO2 Edgardo Taguiam (Regional Police Holding and Administrative Unit), PO1 Alejo Donguya (Regional Public Safety Battalion), PO2 Amado Pangilinan (SPD) for being absent without official leave.

The NCRPO chief, citing lack of evidence, ordered that the murder charges against PO1 Marcelo Reyes, PO1 Allan Banitillo and PO2 Michael Ponce of the Northern Police District be dropped.

He also exonerated SPO2 Rommel Bautista (SPD), PO3 Juanito Terencio Jr. and PO2 Mamelito Abella (EPD) of unspecified charges.