By Aaron Recuenco
While most policemen are busy containing the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a police captain assigned in Agusan del Norte was allegedly busy making money at the expense of furniture businessmen in the province.
PHOTO FROM PNP-IMEG
On Tuesday, operatives of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) nabbed Police Capt. Junil Gultiano, acting chief of police of Buenavista town.
IMEG commander Col. Ronald Lee said the operation stemmed from the complaint of local businessmen about the alleged extortion activities of Gultiano.
During verification, IMEG operatives confirmed that the cop has been demanding P500 every week from furniture businessmen in the town and additional P5 per board foot of lumber that they are selling.
"The complainant told the PNP-IMEG that they were asked to give the P500 every week in exchange for the unhampered operations of their business," said Lee.
An entrapment was immediately set up which led to the arrest of Gultiano while allegedly receiving P1,000 from one of the complainants.
A case of robbery extortion is now being prepared against the policeman who is currently under IMEG custody.
Lee said Guiltiano is also facing dismissal from the service due to the ongoing purge by PNP Chief Gen. Archie Gamboa of misfits in the service.
Lee also called on the public to report the presence of policemen involved in any irregularities to the PNP-IMEG hotlines: SMART – 09989702286 or GLOBE- 09957952569.
He said any information may also be forwarded to its Facebook Page: Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group.