Dismissal for 2 extort cops

Metro police chief Director Ricardo de Leon ordered yesterday summary dismissal proceedings against two policemen from a mobile patrol unit of the Western Police District (WPD) for allegedly extorting P2,500 from a visiting Chinese couple.

De Leon also directed WPD officer-in-charge Senior Superintendent Juanito de Guzman to relieve from their present assignments PO3 Rommel Geneblazo, 29, and PO1 Allan Salvador, 29, both of mobile car W-363.

"These rouge cops have brought shame to the police organization. They don’t deserve to belong to the noble public service," De Leon said. "Hence, they should be dismissed from the service and suffer the consequence of their dastardly act."

Reports reaching De Leon showed that Tong Yu Sam and his wife, both tourists from Hong Kong, were strolling along Quirino Avenue near the Manila Zoo when a patrol car pulled up alongside the couple at about 9:30 p.m. last Aug. 11.

The policemen asked for the couple’s passports. The two failed to produce the documents, saying they left them in their hotel room.

The officers then asked the couple to board the vehicle, where they demanded P10,000 for their immediate release. The couple managed to cough up only P2,500.

Hours later, the couple, accompanied by Chinese interpreters, were brought before De Guzman to formally file a complaint against the two officers.

De Leon said Geneblazo and Salvador were positively identified by the tourists from a lineup.

The Metro police chief then ordered the filing of robbery-extortion charges against the two cops at the Manila prosecutor’s office.