CEBU, Philippines - With six extortion-related cases recorded in the past two years, the Police Regional Office-7 has encouraged the public to make use of social media in reporting erring cops.
“Tell us. Take pictures, and upload them on your Facebook or Twitter accounts. Text my men. We need the netizens to help us in finding criminal cops. Let us know and we will do the rest,” said Senior Supt. Conrad Capa, deputy regional director for operations.
PRO-7 clarified, though, that the cases are not similar in nature as the controversial “hulidap” issue in Manila.
Supt. Henry Biñas, deputy chief of the Regional Investigation and Detection Management Division, said among these six cases involved policemen who worked on settlement and traffic-related cases.
“They are the same – extortion. The case is still the same which is robbery. But the nature is not that as grave or as serious as in Manila where they kidnap the victims,” Biñas said.
Three personnel have been suspended, one was demoted to a lower rank, and one was dismissed from service. The case of one other is still ongoing.
Biñas said three of the cases were reported in Cebu province, two were reported in Mandaue, and one other was reported in Cebu City.
One of the most recent cases happened in July when Police Officer 2 Joselito Laspiñas was arrested in an entrapment operation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation – 7 inside Plaza Independencia in Cebu City. The cop allegedly demanded P4,000 for the release of a female detainee.
Laspiñas, formerly assigned at the Waterfront Police Station, was still wearing his uniform when entrapped.
Capa said Laspiñas’ arrest should serve as a warning to policemen who are still considering of committing the crime.
“Dapat silang mahuli at dapat malaman nila na kaya namin silang hulihin. No if’s, no but’s,” he said.
He also reminded the police force in Central Visayas that one possible incident like the “hulidap” case in the capital will downgrade all the accomplishments of the PNP in the region.
“These criminal cops make use of our facilities and our organization and that is even worse. We cannot afford that incident to happen here,” he said.
He said, nevertheless, that the controversy involving the policemen in Manila has not affected the morale and image of the police community in Central Visayas.
“We have our own area here. Regardless of what happened in NCR, we can still probably stand before you as your police force in Region 7. We should give 100 percent good and that is my position,” Capa said.
He said police units should prevent unauthorized operations while station commanders should be aware of the operations by their subordinates at all times. To strengthen accountability, policemen conducting operations should also submit be pre-operation and post-operation reports.
He said the police force here is open for a lifestyle check.
“It is not even an issue. They can check our policemen. As long as they can defend and justify their lifestyle, there should be no problem,” he said. (FREEMAN)