Five Cavite policemen sacked for extortion

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna — Five policemen assigned to the Cavite Special Enforcement Team of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (CSET-PDEA) have been relieved from their posts after at least nine suspected drug pushers they arrested in Imus town last month accused them of extortion.

In a report, Senior Superintendent Benjardie Mantele, Cavite police director, informed Chief Superintendent Prospero Noble Jr., regional police director, about the relief of Chief Inspector Eduardo Untalan, CSET-PDEA head; PO3 Renato Dalida, and PO1s Diego Tagros, Friolito Matro and Christopher Amon effective July 10.

The five were relieved upon the recommendation of Superintendent Edwin Jose Nemenzo of the PDEA-Quezon City.

According to the summary of information provided to the media, they were accused of extorting P150,000 from a certain Tatang; P450,000 from Rosemarie Paredez; P50,000 each from Lorie Loyola, Sonny Scrug, Fely Camerino and Ina Villanueva; P120,000 from Vernel Capuno; and P150,000 from Felix Saquilayan. A certain Ebok Ramirez reportedly gave the group his red Toyota Corolla in exchange for his "freedom."

The five relieved policemen, however, denied the charges, insisting that they had filed criminal cases against the suspected drug pushers but that the court ordered their release for further investigation.

Untalan claimed that an influential person might be behind their relief from the PDEA.

"We were just doing our job," he said.

A STAR source, however, said the five policemen have not yet been properly charged criminally or administratively for lack of complainants.

"It is really not yet clear kung ano ang kanilang status kasi wala pa ngang official order kung ano ang gagawin sa kanila," the source said.

Untalan was designated as base commander of Camp Pantaleon Garcia in Imus, while Dalida, Tagros and Matro were deployed in Naic, Alfonso and Ternate police stations, respectively. For his part, Amon was placed under the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team.

The STAR repeatedly tried to reach Mantele for comment, but failed.