(Photo courtesy of IMEG)
MANILA – Members of the anti-scalawag unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have arrested a retired cop for alleged extortion in an entrapment operation in Laguna.
Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) director, Brig. Gen. Thomas Frias, identified the suspect as Mariano Garcia, formerly assigned at the Police Regional Office (PRO) 4A, who was caught in the act of receiving money worth PHP5,000 from the complainant in a gasoline station in Barangay Calo in Bae, Laguna on Thursday afternoon.
“We have arrested a retired PNP member accused of extortion affecting the public perception. This is in line with the guidance of our Chief PNP (General Guillermo Eleazar) in adherence to Intensified Cleanliness Policy (ICP) not only by the “Cleanliness in the Offices” but also by the “Cleanliness of our Ranks” Frias said in a statement on Friday.
He said the operation stemmed from the report of the complainant that the suspect is extorting money from cargo trucks coming from Batangas and Quezon province passing by Laguna.
The complainant also reported the illegal activity since it is disturbing the legal operation of the trucking business. Accordingly, the suspect is demanding weekly “payola” from the complainant.
Frias bared that the suspect initially demanded PHP40,000 each from the operator on a weekly basis for them to able to pass freely through checkpoints in Laguna.
“We are intensifying our monitoring of policemen involved in all forms of illegal activities and assure the public that we will apprehend them as soon as we have built enough evidence against them. We must make it clear that Gen. Guillermo Eleazar has a strict zero-tolerance policy against police officers who continue to tarnish the good reputation and image of the majority of the police force,” he stressed.
The suspect is now under IMEG Luzon Field Unit Office custody for booking and documentation for the filing of appropriate charges.
Frias called on the public to report the presence of the PNP personnel involved in any irregularities to the PNP IMEG Hotlines: SMART- 09989702286 or GLOBE- 09957952569. Information may also forward to Facebook Page: Integrity Monitoring Enforcement Group. Twitter Account: @imeg2017. (PNA)
