8 CIDG Agents Accused of Robbery-Extortion Against POGO Workers Arrested
Authorities arrested 8 Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) over alleged robbery-extortion against Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) workers.
Gen. Dionardo Carlos, the commander of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has stated that eight CIDG officers will be dismissed from duty. This comes after they were detained on Wednesday morning in Angeles City, Pampanga, on the allegation of seven Chinese and a Filipina who were robbed by them.
They are not skipping any criminal conduct in their ranks, Carlos reasoned, therefore they should be held accountable. In addition to administrative accusations, they face allegations of robbery in a group, extortion, and unlawful detention.
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Maj. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro, CIDG director, and the eight Majs. Staff Sergeants Mark Anthony Reyes Iral and Sanny Ric Alicante of the CIDG’s Anti-Organized Crime Unit; Corporals Richmond France, John Gervic Fajardo, and Kenneth Rheiner Ferrer Delfin of the CIDG’s Anti-Organized Crime Unit; and Patrolmen Leonardo Veloso Mangales and Hermogines Rosario Jr. of the CIDG’s Anti-Organized Crime Unit (AOCU).
“(The CIDG) will not tolerate misdeeds of its uniformed personnel. This is a semblance of what we call ICU — inept, corrupt and undisciplined police personnel. We cannot allow this incident to tarnish the good performance, credibility established by the CIDG,” Ferro stressed while attending a news conference at Camp Crame.
The CIDG regional field unit (RFU) -Region 3 had previously received information on an alleged armed robbery in a residential neighborhood in Diamond Subd., Barangay Balibago, Angeles City. The suspects were apprehended and informed CIDG-RFU officials that they were conducting a buy-bust operation in the vicinity when they responded.
“In the course of investigation, it was later learned that the suspects held the seven male Chinese nationals and one Filipino house servant inside the said house. It was also observed that all of the things inside the said premise are in disarray. Twelve computers that are set up similar to POGO operation was noticed at the living room,” according to the RFU report.
“The team leader claimed that they are conducting buy-bust operation of firearms in the said place. However, it was later found to be untrue. When their vehicles were checked, assorted belongings of the Chinese were found therein including cash money amounting to more or less PHP300,000 and US dollar bills,” according to the police report.
Inside the residence, the arresting squad discovered 12 computers that looked identical to those used by the POGO. The suspects were eventually discovered to be members of the PNP CIDG assigned to the AOCU during the investigation, according to the article. While their case is being developed, the suspects are being held in the CIDG Angeles Criminal Field Unit.
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