Manila Police District chief Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon on Thursday ordered the relief of all his men assigned to the Police Intelligence Operations Unit after five of its men reportedly got involved in the extortion of a computer shop.
Dizon also formed a special team to conduct a manhunt operation against the five officers—Staff Sgt. Ryann Tagle Paculan; Staff Sgt. Jan Erwin Santiago Isaac; Cpl. Jonmark Gonzales Dabucol; Pat. Jeremiah Sesma Pascual, and Pat. Jhon Lester Reyes Pagar.
A civilian, who was in cahoots with the five accused officers, was also the target of the manhunt.
A computer shop owner in Sampaloc, Manila claimed the five men, who introduced themselves as police officers, went to his establishment claiming they were conducting an anti-gambling operation.
The complainant said the cops demanded P40,000 in exchange for the non-filing of a criminal case against him for illegal gambling. He added the suspects told him they will also be getting a weekly payola from him for his “protection.”