Police inspector fired for extorting P50,000from PNP applicant

BY MAR SUPNAD

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur – Irked by the alleged extortion activity of a police inspector, Chief Supt. Leopoldo N. Bataoil, police Region 1 director, approved on Oct. 28 a recommendation for the immediate dismissal of the police officer, who is also a member of the elite Special Weapons and Tactics, after a fact-finding committee found him guilty of extorting a big amount of money from a police applicant.

General Bataoil said his action was part of a cleansing process to rid the police ranks of scalawags.

He said he will immediately recommend instant dismissal from the service of the SWAT policeman to serve as a lesson to others.

General Bataoil’s order came in the wake of reports submitted to him by Supt. Efren Dalumpines and Sr. Supt. Marvin Bolabola, supervising officer and Regional chief of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, who investigated the extortion case.

The identity of the suspect was temporarily.

“Nagbanta pa nga na magpapakamatay itong suspek kapag natanggal siya sa service,” Bolabola said.

The case stemmed from the complaint of police applicant. The applicant was reportedly approached by the officer and was asked to produce P100,000 in exchange for his inclusion in the list of police recruits.

The policemen and the victim, however, agreed to reduce the amount to P50,000 which was paid in installment by the victim.

After the selection of the recruits was announced and after the name of the victim was not included in the list despite having shelled out a big amount, the victim filed criminal and administrative complaint against inspector.

“There was a probable cause to indict the suspect of estafa and administrative case for defrauding the complaint,” Bolabola and Dalumpines staled in their report.