Seven WPD cops face dismissal

The seven Western Police District (WPD) officers who have been charged for kidnapping and extortion, will also undergo summary dismissal proceedings to be conducted by the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO).

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Senior Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil said the men of the recently abolished WPD-District Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (DCIDU), which has been linked to the abduction of three Muslim businessmen, will also be administratively charged.

Charged before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office were DCIDU chief Superintendent Renato Muyot, Chef Inspector Eufemio Espino, Senior Police Officers 1 Willy Aquino and Maximo Bustamante; and Police Officers 3 Ronald Navarro, Dylan Carel and Wilhelm Castillo.

The seven stand as principal accused in the abduction of businessmen Ancaya Santican, Salman Abboh and Rushdee Matanor in Pilar Village, Tandang Sora, Quezon City on Dec. 16 on the pretext of conducting an anti-drug operations.

"They will undergo the normal summary dismissal proceedings to be conducted by he NCRPO’s Regional Internal Affairs Service (RIAS)," Bataoil said.

Bataoil said whatever the outcome of their investigation, the RIAS will submit its recommendation for approval to headquarters.

"If found guilty, they will be discharged from the service," Bataoil said.

Aside from Bustamante who was arrested in a police sting operation in Pasig City, Muyot and his men are still free, pending the issuance of an arrest warrant against them by a Quezon City court where they were charged for kidnapping and illegal detention last Dec. 20.

Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong, WPD director, abolished the DCIDU headed by Muyot following reports that police personnel assigned to the said unit were involved in rampant extortion activities.

A Camp Crame source also told The STAR that asided from extortion and hulidap, DCIDU agents were being closely monitored by headquarters for other criminal activities.