Cop turns down P100,000 bribe

By Nelson Bolos

MUNOZ, Nueva Ecija - - May their tribe increase.

This was the comment of many here upon learning that Supt Ponciano Zafra, this city’s chief of police , turned down a P100,000 bribe offer of a person  arrested for illegal possession of firearms in a Commission on Elections check point Tuesday.

The bribe was offered by a relative of Roberto Roque Silva, 36, of Barangay Baloc, Sto. Domingo town, who was apprehended carrying a Cal. 45 pistol with four bullets. .

Silva was on a motorcycle when he was flagged down at Comelec gun ban check point at Barangay Maligaya here with the gun tucked in his waist.

Insp. Ronaldo Gamit, team leader of the police group manning the checkpoint said, “nang dalhin namin si Silva sa station, narinig kong in-offer ng kamag-anak niya si hepe ng P100,000 para huwag na siyang sampahan ng kaso. Perotinanggihanni COP angalok”.

Silva admitted the bribe offer of P100,000 made through his relatives to  Zafra just to be allowed to go home.

Three days ago, Zafra hugged the headlines when he led his team of policemen in a gun battle against 5 fleeing carnappers. All the 5 robbers who took the tricycle of trike driver and Bantay Bayan MacarioDela Cruz in Barangay Bakal 3, Talavera, died in then shooting at the police checkpoint then personally headed by the COP.

Sought for comment, Mayor Nestor Alvarez said, “With what he did (turning down the bribe), it only shows that Zafra is not only an efficient and dedicated officer but also a decent and  honourable policeman“.

“In my almost 20 years in the service, I have never accepted bribe money from any person we have arrested. It is against my principle,” said Zafra.

“When he made the offer (bribe money), I instead advised Silva to use his money for his bail and to pay for a good lawyer,” added Zafra who belongs to the Philippine National Police Academy batch 1998.

Some four years ago Zafra made the news when he also turned down a P200,000 bribe money from the owner of a truckload of kamagong and narra lumber confiscated in Gerona, Tarlac.

Silva’s gun is the 15th loose firearm confiscated by Zafra since he assumed as COP in October last year.

Silva will be charged of violation of RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Explosives Act), serious disobedience and violation of the Comelec gun ban.

He is expected to post a bail of more than P150,000.       

For his part, SPO4 Edwin Batulay, this city police’s intelligence officer, said, “Madalang na ang mga katulad ni chief of police na straight. Kaya saludo kaming lahat sa leadership niya.”