14 EPD cops axed for illegal arrest, extortion

MANILA, Philippines - Fourteen police officers from the Eastern Police District (EPD) were relieved from their posts yesterday as part of an investigation of allegations that they illegally arrested seven Koreans and extorted P2.7 million from them last March.

“There will be no whitewash in our investigation of the incident. We will let the ax fall where it may,” EPD directorial staff chief Senior Superintendent Alfred Corpus said in an interview.

He said the 14 police officers were transferred to the District Police Holding and Administrative Service to prevent them from influencing the investigation.

Those relieved were Chief Inspectors Florello Jose Carpio and Virgilio Buenaobra Jr.; Inspector Manny Jamero; Senior Police Officer 2 Melchor de Mayo; Senior Police Officers 1 Herbert Garcia and Nelson Zenarosa; Police Officers 3 Andrie Cawa, Dennis Ordame and Adrian Magbalot; Police Officers 2 Romeo Siaotong, Mangontavar Amerol and Jayson Rivera; and Police Officers 1 Ryan Urbanes and Johnvir Tagacay.

Corpus said the 14 police officers were ordered to submit all documents pertaining to the operation to serve search warrants to the Koreans for allegedly violating the access devices regulation law.

The policemen refused to submit their counter-affidavits on the charges against them, he added.

Korean Lee Chang Hwan told investigators that he and six others were arrested in a raid on their condominium units in Mandaluyong on March 13.

He alleged that the others were released after paying P2.7 million while he was detained and charged because he was not able to pay P500,000.