4 PATEROS COPS SACKED FOR PLANTING EVIDENCE

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) ordered yesterday the
dismissal of four Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) officers in Pateros
after they were found guilty of planting evidence, extortion and other
offenses.

Dismissed from the police service for allegedly making money out of
anti-illegal drug operations were Senior Police Officer 2 Arthur
Velasco, PO1 Vinboy Pacamarra and PO1 Efren Patchicoy.

All four were found guilty of extortion, planting of evidence, serious
irregularities in the performance of duty and dishonesty some three
years after they victimized two Sta. Ana, Pateros residents.

Napolcom chief and Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo
Puno said the Regional Appellate Board's First Division affirmed an
earlier decision of the People's Law Enforcement Board (PLEB), which
found Velasco's group guilty of extorting money from one Maria Analiza
Encinar.

Records showed that on the evening of Aug. 5, 2003, Velasco and his
team searched without a warrant the house of Ursula Gonzales, mother
of suspected drug pusher Dennis Gonzales in Sta. Ana.

They then proceeded to Encinar's house, the alleged pusher's live-in
partner, but the target wasn't there either.

Velasco's group came back after a few minutes and showed Encinar a
sachet of shabu, which was allegedly bought from her by their asset
for P100.

The team searched her house and thereafter invited her to the Pateros
police station, where they demanded P50,000, which was later reduced
to P30,000, in exchange for the non-filing of charges.

Encinar's relatives were only able to produce P3,000 so Velasco
ordered her placed behind bars for violation of the Dangerous Drugs
Law.

Encinar later filed charges before the PLEB, which eventually ruled in
her favor.

Velasco and his men questioned the decision, claiming errors of law
were committed during the investigation prejudicial to their
substantial rights and interest.

But Napolcom, in reviewing the decision, found that the PLEB decision
was supported by enough evidence.

The RAB also concurred with the PLEB's findings that there was neither
a buy-bust operation conducted nor was there a confiscation of drugs
and marked money, contrary to the respondents' claim that they found
two plastic sachets of shabu on top of Encinar's TV set when they
searched her house.

Velasco was also ordered dismissed from the service by the RAB's Third
Division for planting evidence and marked money and for demanding
P100,000 in exchange for the lowering of the criminal charge against
one Diana de la Pena, also of Sta. Ana.The three others were slapped
with suspensions.

The RAB took notice of the respondents' propensity in using the same
modus operandi in pursuing their criminal activity as evidenced by the
string of administrative cases filed against them before various
divisions of the RAB.