Cop in harassment complaint faces probe

Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau chief Paul Labra yesterday said they would investigate SPO4 George Añinon for allegedly harassing the family of a complainant against a city policeman who was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation for extortion last week.

Labra said the investigation would be conducted after he secures a copy of the complaint from the NBI.

Charito Escobido, the mother of drug suspect Ariel Escobido, filed another complaint with the NBI on Tuesday, saying that since February 1, Aniñon and other policemen whom he failed to identify went to their house in barangay Pasil and confronted them for reporting the extortion incident.

She said Aniñon and his companions told them to withdraw their affidavits against PO2 Jaime dela Cruz.

Labra said that it was improper for these policemen to negotiate for the withdrawal of the extortion case against Dela Cruz because the person involved in the case was himself a policeman.

Although it is normal for anybody to negotiate for the settlement of the case, it is unethical for a policeman to do so, according to Labra.

Aside from investigating Añinon, Labra will also ask Dela Cruz to answer the extortion allegation against him.

The NBI arrested Dela Cruz last week while in the act of receiving money from Ariel whom he earlier arrested in barangay Pasil. - Flor Z. Perolina