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.