17 cops axed for shakedown of 6 Koreans

MANILA, Philippines - At least 17 police officers from Metro Manila’s Regional Police Intelligence and Operating Unit (RPIOU) were removed from their post for allegedly extorting P3 million from six Koreans last month, an official said yesterday.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Chief Superintendent Marcelo Garbo Jr. vowed there would be no whitewash in the investigation of the allegation against the lawmen, led by Chief Inspector Redentor Agcio, Senior Inspector Colin Lee and an Inspector Sabado. The 17 police officers have been temporarily assigned to the Regional Police Holding and Accounting Unit.

According to reports reaching Garbo’s office, the police officers – armed with a search warrant issued by a Malabon judge – went to the Alabang Golf and Country Club at around 10 p.m. on July 12, looking for Korean Kang Sung Mook.

A source said the police officers, upon finding that Kang was not at the country club, proceeded to a house being rented by the six Koreans in Ayala Alabang.

The police officers reportedly seized 10 computers the Koreans used for stock trading. They also confiscated the Koreans’ cell phones, the source said.

The Koreans were brought to the RPIOU headquarters at Camp Bagong Diwa, where the police officers reportedly demanded P3 million for their immediate release.

The Koreans were released the next day, but only after they raised P1 million and the police officers emptied their automated teller machine accounts, the source said.

Prior to their release, the Koreans were also forced to sign a logbook stating that nothing was taken from them, the source added.

The shakedown incident reached the attention of Chief Superintendent Pat Hernandez, the NCRPO’s deputy for administration, who ordered an investigation based on Garbo’s instructions.