QCPD chief insists entrapment operation was legitimate
Published Jan 21, 2019 05:46 pm
By Alexandria San Juan
The top official of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) maintained that the entrapment operation held against former members of Galas Police Station (PS-11) Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) was legitimate and part of the internal cleansing program of the PNP.
Quezon City Police District chief, Chief Supt. Joselito T. Esquivel (Kevin Tristan Espiritu / MANIL ABULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel Jr., QCPD director, reiterated that the case filed against Chief Insp. Erwin Guevarra, who headed the PS-11 SDEU, along with 16 of his subordinates, was in line with the "thrust of the PNP in general and QCPD in particular to clean our ranks."
Esquivel made the statement after Guevarra filed a countercharge before the Office of the Ombudsman against the policemen who conducted the entrapment operation against him and some of his team.
According to Esquivel, it was the first time that "bad cops" filed a case against "good cops" who were just doing their duty.
"First time ito na nangyari sa buong Philippine National Police kung saan nagsampa ng complaint ang mga police scalawag laban sa pulis na maayos na gumagawa ng kanilang tungkulin," he said.
Esquivel explained that the entrapment operation emanated from a verified report of their extortion activities and was conducted in line with the administration’s internal cleansing program.
"This is a case where members of the PNP dutifully and lawfully conducted entrapment operations against SDEU Galas Police Station. The complaint is purely a harassment suit. Contrary to the actions of the complainants, the operation was legitimate. The police acted rightfully under the doctrine of the presumption of regularity of duty," Esquivel added.
Meanwhile, the QCPD director assured his policemen that he will extend all legal assistance to those involved in the "legitimate police operation."
Aside from Guevarra, the PS-11 anti-narcotics cops who were nabbed were identified as PO2 Noel Sanchez, PO1 Edward Ramos, PO1 Michael Eric Ramirez, PO1 Ray John Rodriguez, PO1 Gaudencio Escoton Jr, PO1 Sepzon Suclad, PO1 John Ryan Rodriguez, PO1 Dennis Eria, PO1 Leny Atma PO2 Peter James Sosa, PO2 Dhonnie Peralta, PO2 Gerald John Bote, PO2 Ryan Villanueva, PO1 Mark Albert Tabernero, PO1 Jerry Cielo and PO1 Lester Jay Oliveros.
The police officers were arrested in an entrapment operation conducted by joint operatives of the QCPD Intelligence Division (DID), District Special Operations Unit (DSOU), and Special Reaction Unit (SRU) inside the headquarters of PS-11 evening of May 3, 2018.
The operation stemmed from the report of Lorenzo Soriano, a relative of one of two arrested drug suspects, who went to the QCPD headquarters in Camp Karingal to report the alleged extortion of PS-11 cops.
Police report showed that at around 4:30 a.m. of May 3, Soriano's uncle, Flexis Jeffrey Soriano, a 40-year-old businessman, and his driver, Efren Ferrer, were arrested for illegal drugs and illegal possession of firearm during a buy-bust operation of PS-11 SDEU on the corner of E. Rodriguez and Tomas Morato in Brgy. Kristong Hari, Quezon City.
In a report from the QCPD-DSOU, the said drug bust was not entered in the station's official blotter.
According to younger Soriano, the arresting officers from PS-11 SDEU demanded P200,000 from them for their release which he paid at about 9:20 a.m. inside the SDEU office.
The younger Soriano said that he saw his uncle and his driver, who was detained in PS-11, with two policemen who told him to just wait outside for the release of his uncle which did not happen.
At around 4:00 p.m. of the same day, the arresting officers again demanded for an additional P100, 000 which prompted the younger Soriano to seek police assistance.
During the operation, younger Soriano's driver was tasked to deliver the boodle money inside the SDEU office.
However, he was checked by the desk duty officer. Upon discovering the money, he was held and then brought to investigators for questioning.
Despite not consuming the deal, operatives immediately swooped down on the headquarters and held all the personnel inside.
The QCPD recommended their immediate relief from their assignment and the confiscation of their firearms, badge and PNP ID.
Esquivel added that aside from the criminal charges filed against them, an administrative summary dismissal proceeding was recommended by QCPD to the Regional Investigation and Detection Management Division which has the disciplinary authority over the case for Irregularities in the Performance of Duties or Misfeasance and Conduct Unbecoming of Police Officer.
Quezon City Police District chief, Chief Supt. Joselito T. Esquivel (Kevin Tristan Espiritu / MANIL ABULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel Jr., QCPD director, reiterated that the case filed against Chief Insp. Erwin Guevarra, who headed the PS-11 SDEU, along with 16 of his subordinates, was in line with the "thrust of the PNP in general and QCPD in particular to clean our ranks."
Esquivel made the statement after Guevarra filed a countercharge before the Office of the Ombudsman against the policemen who conducted the entrapment operation against him and some of his team.
According to Esquivel, it was the first time that "bad cops" filed a case against "good cops" who were just doing their duty.
"First time ito na nangyari sa buong Philippine National Police kung saan nagsampa ng complaint ang mga police scalawag laban sa pulis na maayos na gumagawa ng kanilang tungkulin," he said.
Esquivel explained that the entrapment operation emanated from a verified report of their extortion activities and was conducted in line with the administration’s internal cleansing program.
"This is a case where members of the PNP dutifully and lawfully conducted entrapment operations against SDEU Galas Police Station. The complaint is purely a harassment suit. Contrary to the actions of the complainants, the operation was legitimate. The police acted rightfully under the doctrine of the presumption of regularity of duty," Esquivel added.
Meanwhile, the QCPD director assured his policemen that he will extend all legal assistance to those involved in the "legitimate police operation."
Aside from Guevarra, the PS-11 anti-narcotics cops who were nabbed were identified as PO2 Noel Sanchez, PO1 Edward Ramos, PO1 Michael Eric Ramirez, PO1 Ray John Rodriguez, PO1 Gaudencio Escoton Jr, PO1 Sepzon Suclad, PO1 John Ryan Rodriguez, PO1 Dennis Eria, PO1 Leny Atma PO2 Peter James Sosa, PO2 Dhonnie Peralta, PO2 Gerald John Bote, PO2 Ryan Villanueva, PO1 Mark Albert Tabernero, PO1 Jerry Cielo and PO1 Lester Jay Oliveros.
The police officers were arrested in an entrapment operation conducted by joint operatives of the QCPD Intelligence Division (DID), District Special Operations Unit (DSOU), and Special Reaction Unit (SRU) inside the headquarters of PS-11 evening of May 3, 2018.
The operation stemmed from the report of Lorenzo Soriano, a relative of one of two arrested drug suspects, who went to the QCPD headquarters in Camp Karingal to report the alleged extortion of PS-11 cops.
Police report showed that at around 4:30 a.m. of May 3, Soriano's uncle, Flexis Jeffrey Soriano, a 40-year-old businessman, and his driver, Efren Ferrer, were arrested for illegal drugs and illegal possession of firearm during a buy-bust operation of PS-11 SDEU on the corner of E. Rodriguez and Tomas Morato in Brgy. Kristong Hari, Quezon City.
In a report from the QCPD-DSOU, the said drug bust was not entered in the station's official blotter.
According to younger Soriano, the arresting officers from PS-11 SDEU demanded P200,000 from them for their release which he paid at about 9:20 a.m. inside the SDEU office.
The younger Soriano said that he saw his uncle and his driver, who was detained in PS-11, with two policemen who told him to just wait outside for the release of his uncle which did not happen.
At around 4:00 p.m. of the same day, the arresting officers again demanded for an additional P100, 000 which prompted the younger Soriano to seek police assistance.
During the operation, younger Soriano's driver was tasked to deliver the boodle money inside the SDEU office.
However, he was checked by the desk duty officer. Upon discovering the money, he was held and then brought to investigators for questioning.
Despite not consuming the deal, operatives immediately swooped down on the headquarters and held all the personnel inside.
The QCPD recommended their immediate relief from their assignment and the confiscation of their firearms, badge and PNP ID.
Esquivel added that aside from the criminal charges filed against them, an administrative summary dismissal proceeding was recommended by QCPD to the Regional Investigation and Detection Management Division which has the disciplinary authority over the case for Irregularities in the Performance of Duties or Misfeasance and Conduct Unbecoming of Police Officer.