PNP chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil — File photo from GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — The directors of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) were relieved from their posts for ten days.
This development comes following the October 29 raid on Century Peak Tower in Ermita, Manila.
Article continues after this advertisementIn a press briefing on Thursday, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo confirmed that PNP chief General Rommel Marbil ordered the administrative relief of NCRPO Acting Director Maj. Gen. Sidney Hernia and ACG Director Maj. Gen. Ronnie Cariaga.
FEATURED STORIES NEWSINFO LTO names driver, owner of SUV with No. ‘7’ plate NEWSINFO Villanueva puzzled by national attention on SUV busway violation issue NEWSINFO SC didn’t order PhilHealth fund return, says PoeOn October 29, the ACG enforced a cyber warrant at the Century Peak Tower, alleging that it housed a Philippine offshore gaming operator.
READ: PNP-ACG led Manila Pogo hub raid – NCRPO
Article continues after this advertisementFollowing the raid, Hernia and 14 other officers were accused of extorting money from the foreigners who were apprehended during the operation.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: NCRPO chief denies claims of extortion during Manila Pogo raid
Article continues after this advertisementThe NCRPO chief denied the allegations on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, three ACG personnel were relieved from their post for reportedly twisting and covering the building’s closed-circuit television cameras.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: 3 cops relieved for tampering with CCTV cameras in raided Manila Pogo
In a statement, ACG said the air conditioning system at Century Peak Tower was turned off while officers were gathering evidence, compelling them to walk without their shirts “creating an unprofessional appearance.”
“This situation led them to twist and cover only the hallway cameras, while the cameras in the workstations where the devices were located remained operational,” it added.
The PNP maintains, however, that the operation was “legitimate.”
“The PNP stands firm that there was nothing wrong with the police operation,” Fajardo said in Filipino.
“However, during the implementation of the cyber warrant, there were operational-related issues that were raised by the subject of the police operation,” she added.
Fajardo claimed the relief order was “not a form of punishment” and was only meant to allow an impartial investigation into whether or not the police operational procedures were violated.
“Another allegation is that some of the tenants were harassed; some of the tenants were not able to do their regular business there. These are the things we have to review – whether there was any deviation from the normal police operations,” she noted.
According to Fajardo, an investigative committee will look into the allegations with the acting deputy chief for operations, Lt. Gen. Michael John Dubria, as its head.
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NCRPO Deputy Director Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Tamondong and ACG Chief of Staff Col. Vina Guzman are the designated officers-in-charge of the two units while Hernia and Cariaga are relieved.k9win
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