7 Manila cops axed over extortion rap

Seven members of the Manila Police District-Drug Enforcement Unit (MPD-DEU) were sacked Friday after being accused of extortion and illegal detention of two motorcycle delivery riders in Sampaloc.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso ordered their immediate relief, with MPD chief Brig. Gen. Arnold Abad directing the officers to report to the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit while under investigation.

“Walang lugar ang mga tolongges sa Lungsod ng Maynila, kahit pa sa hanay ng kapulisan. Kapag mali, mali,” Domagoso said. “Hindi natin puwedeng palusutin ang mga abusado, lalo na kung ang ordinaryong tao ang pinahihirapan.”

One of the riders, identified only as “Chester,” sought help from the National Police Commission (Napolcom), claiming the operatives arrested them without cause on Sept. 9, detained them for hours, seized a motorcycle, and siphoned P9,000 from his e-wallet.

Napolcom Commissioner Vicente Calinisan noted inconsistencies between the riders’ sworn statements and the MPD-DEU’s report, which alleged the arrests were drug-related.

The seven officers — a police major, two master sergeants, two staff sergeants, a corporal and a patrolman — now face multiple administrative charges, including grave misconduct, grave irregularity in the performance of duty, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.