Top PNP execs suspended over alleged Pogo raid extortion

Gen. Sidney Hernia —REGIONAL PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE NCRPO

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil had ordered the relief of the heads of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) pending an investigation of allegations that their men tried to extort money from foreigners suspected of operating a scam hub in Manila.

NCRPO chief Police Maj. Gen. Sidney Hernia and PNP-ACG chief Maj. Gen. Ronnie Francis Cariaga were “administratively relieved for a period of 10 days” starting Nov. 7, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Thursday.

Officers from the NCRPO and the PNP-ACG raided the suspected scam hub at Century Peak Tower in Ermita, Manila, last Oct. 29, rounding up 69 foreigners—34 Indonesian, 10 Malaysian and 25 Chinese nationals.

READ: NCRPO chief denies claims of extortion during Manila Pogo raid

The alleged scam hub was supposedly engaged in cryptocurrency and romance scams. Raiders confiscated mobile phones, desktop computers, laptops, and assorted SIM cards.

However, the police had to release the foreigners after the Bureau of Immigration (BI) refused to take them into custody. The BI explained last Saturday that the PNP was “withholding access to the necessary information and reports” needed to process the foreigners.

The BI said the documentation should include “all available information related to the subjects’ identities and the affidavit of arrest, detailing the circumstances of apprehension.”

Chinese complainants

Last Monday, four Chinese men filed a complaint with the National Police Commission, accusing Hernia and his men of trying to extort P1 million from each of them in exchange for the services of a lawyer who supposedly had links to the NCRPO and other influential authorities.

“He is being investigated for the conduct of the raid in Malate,” Remulla said, referring to the NCRPO chief.

Hernia denied the extortion allegations against him and 14 of his men.

“I will not tolerate any wrongdoing within our ranks, and I firmly urge the accusers to substantiate their claims in the proper forum,” Hernia said on Tuesday, adding that the NCRPO “fully welcomes any investigation into this matter.”

READ: PNP chief firm on Pogo raid despite criticism

Hernia said he was “confident that the investigation will reveal that all procedures followed were lawful and proper.”

“We stand ready to clear our names and reinforce our dedication to integrity and service,” he added.

PNP-ACG spokesperson Police Col. Warren Mae Arancillo said Cariaga did not have a statement on his relief.

Alleged CCTV tampering

Police Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, the PNP spokesperson, told a press briefing on Thursday that Hernia and Cariaga were relieved to give way to an impartial investigation.

In addition to the extortion allegation, the investigation will also include the reported tampering of the closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera by PNP officers during the raid.

“Let me reiterate though that this administrative relief of the two senior officers is not a form of punishment. We are only doing this administrative relief to give way to the investigation to clarify these issues that cropped up during the police operation,” she said.

She admitted that “a lot of accusations and allegations” have been hurled against the police in the conduct of the raid in Manila, “so the PNP leadership deemed it necessary” to place Hernia and Cariaga under administrative relief in the meantime.

She said the two police officials may return to their posts if proven that they had not committed any wrongdoing.

‘Flawed’ operation

Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesperson Winston Casio had said the NCRPO and the PNP-ACG operation in Manila was “flawed” when foreign suspects were released after the raid.

The PAOCC, which has led many raids against Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), was not part of last week’s raid, which was even praised by the PNP chief himself for being “successful.”

“We were never consulted nor informed regarding this operation. We never release any foreign nationals caught in Pogos,” Casio said.

The PAOCC spokesperson himself has been relieved of his post following a leaked video showing him slapping a Filipino worker at a suspected Pogo hub in Bagac, Bataan, last week.

Slapping incident

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday said it would launch its own investigation of the alleged mistreatment of the Filipino, who was one of the hundreds of workers of Central One Bataan PH Inc. at the Centro Park Freeport.

“The Civil Service Code of Ethics is unequivocal in its call for government employees to uphold respect, professionalism, and integrity in their actions, serving as both examples and protectors of the people they serve,” the CHR said in a statement.

“Any act of aggression, regardless of circumstance, undermines the trust and erodes the essential connection between the government and the people,” it said.

Casio was relieved of his post on Monday pending investigation over a viral CCTV footage that showed him slapping and berating the unidentified worker during the Oct. 31 raid.

Casio admitted his “mistake.” He said the Pogo worker allegedly cursed and flashed a dirty finger at one of the PAOCC members, prompting him to confront the worker, asking him whether he wanted to face charges or be slapped twice. The Pogo worker chose to be slapped, he said.

Unjustified retaliation

“While reports indicate that the man involved allegedly made an offensive gesture toward the PAOCC official, the commission believes that such behavior does not justify any form of physical retaliation from a public official,” the CHR said.

The commission praised the PAOCC’s “swift response” in relieving Casio of his duties.

PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz issued a memorandum on Nov. 4 ordering Casio to vacate his post and to explain his actions in writing within 24 hours.

“We believe that by promptly requiring Mr. Casio to provide an explanation and temporarily relieving him of his duties demonstrates the institution’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and the ethical conduct expected of a public office,” the CHR said.

It said public servants should be committed to respecting the rights and dignity of all Filipinos “regardless of the situation, in adherence to the values enshrined in our Constitution and laws.” —WITH A REPORT FROM GILLIAN VILLANUEVA