8 cops tagged in 3 scam suspects’ kidnap

MANILA, Philippines — Eight police officers in Quezon City have been accused of kidnapping and extorting money from three suspected scammers, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported yesterday.

PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. has relieved and placed under restrictive custody the police officers who are assigned with the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) criminal investigation and detection unit upon the recommendation of Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) director Brig. Gen. Warren de Leon.

The alleged involvement of the police officers in the kidnapping was first reported by online news site QC News Today and radio station dwIZ last week.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said in an interview with reporters that the IMEG filed charges of kidnapping, robbery extortion and unlawful arrest before the Department of Justice against the police officers in August after an investigation.

Administrative cases of grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer were also filed against them before the PNP Internal Affairs Service.

Fajardo identified one of the police officers as Lt. Col. Mark Julio Abong, who was earlier relieved from his post as chief of the QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit for his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run accident that left a tricycle driver dead.

The charges stemmed from the complaints of three people who were arrested by the police officers in an entrapment operation for allegedly swindling a politician.

A relative of the victims told the IMEG the police officers demanded P2 million in exchange for working out the dismissal of the cases against them.

The relative said she gave P2 million but the lawmen allegedly asked for more money.

Instead of releasing the victims, the lawmen still filed charges against them. This prompted their relative to seek the help of the IMEG, which “took cognizance of the case,” Fajardo said.

She said the police officers can present their sworn statements and other pieces of evidence proving their innocence during the preliminary investigation.

“With respect to the administrative case, the same process will be observed,” according to Fajardo.