Pubdate: Fri, 07 Apr 2006 Source: People's Journal (Philippines) Copyright: 2006 People's Journal Contact: http://www.journal.com.ph/contactus.asp Website: http://www.journal.com.ph/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3381 Author: Alvin Murcia Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.) 4 PATEROS COPS SACKED FOR EXTORT THE National Police Commission yesterday dismissed from the service four members of the Pateros police drug enforcement unit for extorting money from a suspected drug pusher. Sacked were SPO2 Arthur Velasco and PO1s Vinboy Pacamarra, Efren Patchicoy and Antonio Zinampan. Napolcom chairman and Interior Secretary Ronaldo V. Puno said the Commission's Regional Appellate Board First Division affirmed the decision of the People's Law Enforcement Board of Pateros dismissing the four lawmen for serious irregularity in the performance of duty, dishonesty and violation of the law. Records showed that on the night of Aug. 5, 2003, the group of SPO2 Velasco searched without warrant the house of Ursula Gonzales, mother of alleged drug pusher Dennis Gonzales, in Sta. Ana, Pateros. After 30 minutes, the policemen went to the house of complainant Maria Annaliza Encinar, live-in partner of Dennis. The group left when they learned from Encinar that Dennis was not home. However, Velasco's group came back and showed Encinar a sachet of shabu which was allegedly bought by their asset from Dennis for P100. Encinar said Velasco demanded P50,000 from her and later reduced it to P30,000. - --- MAP posted-by: Tom