2 Samar lawmen sacked for extortion

Philippine National Police chief Director General Panfilo Lacson dismissed a municipal police chief of Northern Samar and one of his men for alleged extortion at a ferry terminal.

SPO4 Amy Cajandan, police chief of Allen town, and SPO3 Alfonso Rarela, head of the town’s police assistance center, were found guilty of grave misconduct in summary dismissal proceedings against them.

Chief Superintendent Efren Fernandez, Eastern Visayas police director, said motorists had complained that the police assistance center had been collecting unauthorized fees at the ferry terminal in Barangay Looc.

The collection of fees apparently continued despite an earlier order that the police assist-ance center be abolished.

The center was put up inside a private pier without authorization from the its owners.

Fernandez said Cajandan was held liable for failing to stop the illegal collection of fees. — Christina Mendez