JUST in a day’s monitoring of the news on television, print, and social media, there appeared at least two cases of official police misconduct. This happened on February 12.
The first incident was in Tipas, Taguig City and the whole episode was captured on a clear CCTV footage. The security camera clip showed several cops in civilian clothes (only one was in uniform) entering a store and serving a supposed search warrant to a woman who owns the store. Her teenage son was forcefully taken out of the store, manhandled as he screamed for help. It was reported that the woman storeowner has been charged for dealing in illegal drugs before, but was acquitted and released in 2022.
Taguig City police chief Col. Joey Goforth confirmed the incident, as he personally talked with the victims. Goforth said no detailed investigation is needed in this case because the CCTV footage showed the details of what happened. The police also established that the team carried no valid arrest or search warrant, and they violated official PNP procedures on serving warrants. The motive of the whole operation is money — the erring policemen were harassing the victims to come across with a large sum of money.
As the investigation deepened, it appears that the unscrupulous cops had in the past victimized this same family by arresting a family member and asking P25,000 for their release. The Southern Police District (SPD) which has jurisdiction over Taguig City has relieved the 10 policemen involved in this search-warrant racket. The SPD spokesperson, Maj. Hazel Asilo, said the cops serving the warrant should have identified themselves and should have been in complete uniform. The fact that these rules were violated showed there was abuse of authority in serving the warrant, she added.
Over in General Santos City, a police staff sergeant has been arrested for allegedly extorting money and demanding sex from the wife of an inmate who is detained at Tambler police station. The suspect enticed the wife, promising to help secure the release of her husband in exchange for cash and sexual favors.
On different occasions from Jan. 20 to Feb. 1, 2025, the woman gave the police sergeant cash totaling P10,000, part of his demand of P20,000 for the release of her husband. Police Maj. Wesley Matillano, chief of the Tambler police station, said the erring cop cited financial difficulties as his reason for the extortion.
These two incidents of police misconduct have several things in common — the perpetrators are senior police officers, the cases involved trafficking in illegal drugs, and the reported motive is money.
While the higher police commanders were successful in stopping the two attempts and the erring policemen were charged in court, it is both sad and disappointing that these police harassment incidents and abuse of authority still linger in the police organizations. Relieving erring policemen of their posts because of these transgressions is not enough punishment for the offenses committed.
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil should prioritize police discipline and professionalism, at least to justify the extension of his term of office.
