10 CIDG cops sacked, held for alleged P18 million extortion in Tondo raid
Ten Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) personnel were relieved from their posts and put under police custody for allegedly extorting P18 million from individuals they arrested in a raid at a warehouse in Tondo, Manila, last February. INQUIRER.net file photo
MANILA, Philippines — Ten Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) personnel were relieved from their posts and put under police custody for allegedly extorting P18 million from individuals they arrested in a raid at a warehouse in Tondo, Manila last February.
Police investigation alleged that the CIDG Southern Metro Manila District Field Unit officers brought the raided warehouse’s workers to their office in Taguig City, the law enforcement unit said in a statement on Thursday.
“Allegedly afterwards, the accused personnel demanded monetary consideration in exchange for their release,” it added.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo detailed that the officers allegedly demanded P18 million.
Fajardo said, based on the victims’ statements, they were able to give the amount demanded by the CIDG officers.
In an interview at Camp Crame on Friday, PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) Inspector General Brigido Dulay said the victims managed to produce P17,885,000.
The CIDG said the personnel were relieved, had their issued firearms and badges turned over, and taken to the PNP custodial facility after the unit received the police investigation report last Monday.
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The Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) recommended administrative cases against the accused officers for grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a police officer, and neglect of duty, according to the CIDG.
The cases were recommended in relation to kidnapping and serious illegal detention, planting of evidence, and unlawful arrest, the CIDG added.
According to Dulay, the police officers involved three patrolmen, two master sergeants, one chief master sergeant, one corporal, one lieutenant colonel and one major.
