The Chinese nationals who were arrested by the police for alleged illegal gambling have cleared the arresting officers of corruption charges.
The foreigners reportedly issued a formal statement giving the operatives of the criminal investigation and detection group-National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR) a clean bill of health.
The accusations hurled against the CIDG-NCR prompted the unit’s chief, Col. Hansel Marantan, to tender his resignation “in the interest of transparency and to give way to an impartial investigation.”
The 13 Chinese, in their sworn affidavit, belied reports that the CIDG-NCR personnel extorted money from them following their arrest during a raid in Paranaque City.
“Aside from the pieces of evidence they have recovered during their operation, the CIDG-NCR never took money or any personal belongings from the undersigned”, the affidavit stated.
The foreigners, identified as Lin Andan, Yi Aile, Li Meiyi, Xiao Yan, Nian Xian, Zhang Fui, Jimmy Jutang, Wu Wei Long, Niu Howy, Lei Wen, A Shui, Peng Jun, and Ki Kin further stated that they were immediately released from detention.
But after their release, the office of the deputy chief for administration (DCA) under Lt. Gen Rhodel Sermonia advised the Chinese to file a complaint against the CIDG-NCR.
However, the Chinese refused to do so, saying they have no intention of filing any complaint against the CIDG-NCR personnel who were part of the operation.”
Marantan noted that while the DCA’s efforts to protect the integrity of the PNP organization were well-intended, the premature pronouncements allegations were mere conjectures that had to be substantiated with evidence.
These pronouncements have affected the morale of the CIDG and tarnished its image, Marantan said.
He deplored Sermonia’s action. “By calling for a press conference and making baseless accusations, Gen. Sermonia maligned my person, character, and honor and the whole CIDG NCR. The accusations as disproved by the sworn statements of the arrested Chinese nationals show that were clearly prompted by personal ill-will, spite and/or malice with the object of destroying my reputation and the CIDG and discrediting and ridiculing our image before the bar of public opinion.”
Marantan also said he didn’t even have to defend himself. “If there are erring policemen by all means we punish them including myself. Ridiculing them in public, bringing the issue over the media pending investigation is uncalled for, more so, if it’s done by a father of the organization. It is not in the provisions of the PNP Manual I am very sure of that,” he added.
“We are also one family in the PNP. We are also friends to a community. We are also sons to a father, husband to a wife, brothers to our siblings, and most of all a father to a family whose children are going to school every day. The worse part is that they can and be a prey of bullies by and among their peers at school because some officers in the organization have spoken too soon. I know how it feels to be in this situation as I have gone through all these things many times in the past,” he said.
