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.