Cop in extort-try on Espina’s son dismissed
ABS-CBNnews.com
Posted at 09/12/2012 4:31 PM | Updated as of 09/12/2012 4:31 PM
MANILA, Philippines – The policeman who attempted to extort money from the son of newly-installed National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Leonardo Espina has been sacked along with other erring officers involved in other cases.
Espina ordered the dismissal from the police service of SPO4 Jose Dela Peña Jr., of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) for two counts of grave misconduct and three counts of serious irregularity in the performance of duty.
“Dela Peña will suffer the forfeiture of all his benefits that includes the cancellation of his retirement benefits and pension amounting to millions of pesos; his eligibility; and disqualification for re-employment in the police service,” the NCRPO said in a press statement.
Dela Peña’s four other companions, PO3 Rodolfo De Jesus, PO3 Carlos Bromeo, PO2 Crodel De Jose and PO2 Dionel Rosario were likewise sacked for two counts of grave misconduct and two counts of serious irregularity in the performance of duty.
The case stemmed from a complaint filed by retired Gen. Celso Castro regarding the illegal search conducted by Dela Peña and his four companions on the vehicle of his son during a random checkpoint at the corner of Betty Go Belmonte and Dama de Noche streets in Barangay Mariana in Quezon City on November 7, 2009.
Dela Peña flagged down the vehicle driven by Castro’s son and asked for his license. He then opened the door of the passenger’s seat and ordered his companions to conduct an extensive search of the vehicle’s interior.
Recently, Dela Peña was also tagged as the cop who extorted money from Espina’s son. Other people victimized by the same cop soon came forward to file complaints against him.
Other charges faced by Dela Peña are robbery, extortion, threat, and harassment.
Meanwhile, Espina’s first order of the day when he assumed the NCRPO post was an inventory of all men in uniform with pending major cases and directed the resolution of these cases within 30 days.
“Huwag ninyong pamarisan ang mga ganitong gawain. Huwag ninyong sayangin ang inyong serbisyo. Dahil sa maliit o malaki na pagkakamali, pagkakamali pa rin yan na siyang dudungis sa ngalan at imahe ng pulisya. Ang bawat kasapi na mapatunayang nagkamali ay dapat parusahan,” Espina said.
The NCRPO named the other erring policemen lined up for dismissal as:
PO1 Adolfo Bautista Jr. for Serious Neglect of Duty and Less Grave Neglect of Duty
PO2 Ferdinand Q Raquin for Grave Misconduct (Violation of Napolcom Memo Circular 2007-001)
PO2 John Pierre Bautista and PO1 Benjamin Gonzales for Robbery Extortion
PO1 Rommel A Isidro for Positive for Use of Dangerous Drugs
SPO2 Federico D Lictawa for Serious Neglect of Duty (AWOL)
PO1 Nicoli I Vigilia for Grave Misconduct (Serious Physical Injury)
PO1 Eric Babasa for Murder
PO1 Rustico Gabuco for Homicide and Serious Neglect of Duty (AWOL)
PSUPT ROGELIO ROSALES for Serious Neglect of Duty (AWOL)
PO2 Repablo B Genarao for Grave Misconduct, Illegal Discharge of Firearm / Alarm and Scandal
Espina urged the public to file their complaints against erring personnel by texting the NCRPO’s hotline number 0999-901-8181.