Police unit chief orders probe on cops’ extortion of Chinese man in Manila

MANILA, Philippines—The chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has ordered a probe on the alleged involvement of some of his men in the extortion of a Chinese national whom policemen arrested for drug possession in Manila.

Police Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. named the CIDG deputy director for administration, Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, to head the fact-finding team that was tasked, among others, to identify the members of the CIDG’s Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crime Division (AFCCD) who reportedly forced Erwin Tan Ngie, a Chinese national, to produce P1.5 million in exchange for his release after they arrested him last February 3. The arresting policemen reportedly introduced themselves as CIDG members from Camp Crame.

Ngie was arrested after 25 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, or “shabu,” was allegedly found in his parked motorcycle along Ongpin in Manila’s Chinatown. He was at the time dining at the President Restaurant around 7 p.m.

Pagdilao Jr. ordered the immediate relief of the implicated AFCCD members to give way to an impartial investigation and summary judgment proceedings if warranted by the probe results.

Media reports reaching Pagdilao Jr.’s office said the policemen took the Chinese national to Camp Crame where he was allegedly threatened with drug charges if he did not cough up P10 million. The demand was later reduced to P1.5 million in exchange for his release.

Pagdilao said that with the AFCCD becoming increasingly involved in a series of reported “irregular” activities, he ordered “a thorough review and assessment of the unit’s morale and efficiency and the leadership qualities of its commanders and sub-commanders for the purpose of instituting drastic reforms, including the complete top-to-bottom overhaul of the division by staffing it with entirely new officers and personnel.”

Pagdilao made it clear that the CIDG would neither condone criminal or irregular acts committed by its members nor protect them from sanctions imposed after due process.—Jamie Marie Elona

Originally posted at 04:42 pm | Thursday, March 01,  2012