Fate of 8 cops expected today

CEBU, Philippines - After 60 days, the fate of the eight personnel of the Mobile Patrol Group, who were reportedly caught on video extorting from a fair (perya) in Barangay Busay recently, will be determined.

Police Regional Office 7 director Marcelo Garbo, Jr. said the minimum sanction that will be imposed against the eight erring cops, whose names they refused to divulge pending investigation, would be suspension and the maximum sanction would be dismissal from service.

But before these cops face administrative sanctions, Garbo said they make sure that these cops undergo due process.

Garbo tasked Supt. Audie Villacin, head of the Regional Investigation and Detective Division to conduct the investigation and arrived at a result after 60 days.

He also tasked the MPG personnel’s superior, Cebu City Police Office officer-in-charge Mariano Natuel, to coordinate with Villacin in the investigation.

“I gave the directive that lalabas ang resulta ng investigation within 60 days... We will not allow that these people will not be punished,” the PRO-7 director said.

Should they face suspension, the days of suspension will depend on the gravity of the offense that they have committed, Garbo said. He said extortion is a grave offense.

Garbo urged the owner of the video copy to show additional video that he may have, which would provide more evidence to pin down the said police officers.

The PRO-7 director has said that he will be ordering the reassignment of the eight cops to Siquijor. The relief order is expected to be released today.

Personnel from the Regional Public Safety Battalion will temporarily replace the posts that the eight cops will be vacating. (FREEMAN)