By Aaron Recuenco
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has branded as a hoax a circulating social media post about the alleged 'shabu-planting' scheme of valet parking boys of a posh hotel in Manila.
National Capital Region Police Office Chief Guillermo Eleazar (JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN)
NCRPO chief Director Guillermo Eleazar said they have already conducted an investigation over the claim against the valet parking boys of the Manila Hotel and found out that it is not true.
"We have investigated this matter, and found no record of this sort registered with the Manila Hotel or with us," said Eleazar.
The circulating message alleges that the valet parking attendant would plant at least two sachets of shabu inside the vehicle.
They would then tip the nearby policemen conducting checkpoint about the alleged illegal drugs.
The cops would then allegedly extort money from the car owner. The negotiation for the dropping of charges would allegedly start at P500,000.
Based on the background check, Eleazar said the message was originally posted in November last year but was reposted again lately.
He then said that message is not true based on the investigation they conducted.
He then appealed to the public not to repost or forward hoax messages.
"Once again, NCRPO would also like to appeal to the public to be more circumspect, prudent and responsible in their social media postings and refrain from forwarding unverified information," said Eleazar.
He also encouraged the alleged victim to come forward and file a complaint.
"We encourage the alleged victim or his family, if there is any, to come out in the open and file a formal report of the incident so that we can investigate and take the necessary action," said Eleazar.
Last year, the PNP also branded as a hoax a social media post about policemen planting shabu on the compartment of a car they would check on the checkpoint.
The same cops would allegedly tip another group of policemen manning checkpoints for the operation in order to compel car owners to yield to their extortion demand.
The incident appeared to have happened in another country and was reposted to make it appear that it happened in the Philippines.