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. [continues 180 words]
Taguig police station was turned into a war zone when a platoon of rookie policemen from the Regional Special Action Unit (RSAU) raided the station's drug enforcement unit shortly after midnight yesterday to rescue two of their colleagues arrested earlier for bribery. The fierce shootout, which lasted for about 30 minutes, took place within the Taguig Municipal Hall quadrangle in Barangay Tuktukan around 12:10 a.m. Prior to the shootout, members of the Taguig DEU, now called Anti- Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOFT), had arrested Kahar Goldy, 27, and Benjamin Usmar, 49, both Moslems, in a buy-bust operation in Bahay Pagkakaisa in Maharlika Village for selling illegal drugs and possessing a firearm. [continues 285 words]
