PNP to probe extortion in Mindanao checkpoints

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The Philippine National Police (PNP) will take necessary action against its alleged members who were reportedly extorting money from commuters at checkpoints in national highways in Mindanao.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil said he will bring up the issue during their command conference this week with PNP Chief Director General Arturo Lomibao.

"We will discuss this complaint, and the people involved will be investigated and will be dealt with accordingly," Bataoil told The STAR.

Last week, Lanao del Norte Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo has complained to Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Jesus Dureza on the alleged extortion activities of the police and the military personnel manning checkpoints along the national roads in Southwestern Mindanao, Northern Mindanao and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

In his complaint to Dureza, Dimaporo described how policemen and soldiers extorted money from his people who were accompanying a number of cattle he bought last month for a livelihood program for his constituents.

Dimaporo claimed that his people told him that there were at least 40 checkpoints from General Santos to Lanao del Norte and in each of the checkpoints, the police personnel allegedly demanded P40 to P50 before they were allowed to pass through.

He further claimed that his workers were not allowed to pass through the national highways of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat provinces in Region 12, Maguindanao in the ARMM and in Misamis Oriental in Northern Mindanao until they gave cash despite the necessary papers and permits they were carrying.

The STAR tried to reach Maj. Gen. Agustin Dema-ala, commanding general of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division based in Cotabato City, yesterday but was not able to contact him for comment.

Dimaporo’s complaint came after local officials and businessmen in Socsargen also complained about the alleged extortion activities not only of traffic highway policemen but also of unscrupulous civilian agents of the Land Transportation Office.

"These people in the checkpoints are reportedly asking SOPs from truckers," Governors Daisy Fuentes of South Cotabato, Miguel Rene Dominguez of Sarangani and Manny Pinol of North Cotabato said as they called for an investigation.