Pubdate: Fri, 07 Apr 2006 Source: Daily Tribune, The (Philippines) Copyright: 2006 The Tribune Publishing Co., Inc. Contact: http://www.tribune.net.ph/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2973 Author: Ben Gines Jr., Gina Peralta-Elorde Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.) NAPOLCOM FIRES 4 PATEROS POLICEMEN FOR SERIOUS IRREGULARITY The National Police Commission (Napolcom) yesterday ordered the dismissal from the service of four policemen who were found to have connived in planting evidence and extorting money from an alleged drug peddler. The Napolcom said it fired four members of the Pateros Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) for planting shabu (hydrochloride methamphetamine) and marked money for the purpose of extorting money from complainant Maria Annaliza Encinar. The decision was handed down by the commission's Regional Appellate Board (RAB) First Division which affirmed the decision of the People's Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) of Pateros dismissing SPO2 Arthur Velasco, PO1 Vinboy Pacamarra, PO1 Efren Patchicoy and PO1 Antonio Zinampan for serious irregularity in the performance of duty, dishonesty and violation of law. Case records show on or around 10 p.m. of Aug. 5, 2003, the group of Velasco searched without warrant the house of Ursula Gonzales, mother of alleged drug pusher Dennis Gonzales, in Sta. Ana, Pateros. After 30 minutes, Velasco's group went to the house of complainant Encinar, the live-in partner of Dennis. Upon learning from complainant that Dennis was not home, the group left. But Velasco's group came back after five minutes wherein Velasco showed complainant a sachet of shabu which was allegedly bought by their asset from the complainant for P100. The group then searched complainant's house and thereafter invited her to the Pateros police station. At the police station, Velasco demanded from the complainant the amount of P50,000 which was later reduced to P30,000 to be produced until 3 a.m. the following morning. Complainant's relatives, however, were only able to produce P3,000. This angered Velasco who then told investigator SPO3 Carmelito Pequino to put complainant in jail for violation of the Dangerous Drugs Law. - --- MAP posted-by: Tom