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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Metro Manila top cop, police's anti-cybercrime chief sacked over Manila POGO raid

Metro Manila top cop, police's anti-cybercrime chief sacked over Manila POGO raid

Published Nov 7, 2024 08:32 am

Two senior officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) were administratively relieved from their posts amid allegations of wrongdoings of their men during a raid on a suspected Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Manila last week. 

But PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo was quick to clarify that the relief of Maj. Gen. Sidney Hernia as Metro Manila top cop and Maj. Gen. Ronnie Francis Cariaga as head of the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) is not a punishment but more of ensuring that the conduct of investigation on the allegations raised against them is impartial. 

Fajardo said the relief order was only for 10 days.

“They were administratively relieved for 10 days to give way to the investigation that will be conducted by a committee… Let me reiterate though  that this is not a form of punishment,” said Fajardo.

The investigation stemmed from the complaints, and later filing of charges, of the management of the Century Peak Tower in connection with the POGO raid on Oct 29.

The subject of the search warrant was the Vertex Technology located on the 23rd floor but there were claims that the policemen proceeded to other floors, and there were wrongdoings committed.

“There were again operational related issues that were raised by the subject of the police operation particularly the alleged tampering of the CCTV camera by PNP personnel,” said Fajardo.

But Fajardo said there was nothing irregular in the conduct of the operation: “The police operation was conducted under the premise of an implementation of a cyber warrant duly issued by Regional Trial Court Manila that the operation was legitimate as it was covered by a search warrant.”

While the PNP insisted that the operation was legitimate, national police chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil decided to create an investigation committee to clear things up on the allegations raised by the raiding teams.

Fajardo also dismissed speculations that an influential person was responsible for the relief of Hernia and Cariaga.

“For the record the PNP will not succumb to any pressure. Ang PNP leadership decided to administratively relieve the two senior officers again to give way to an impartial investigation,” said Fajardo.

“We owe it to the people because a lot of accusations and allegations were propagated in different fora so the PNP leadership deemed it necessary to subject them (Hernia and Cariaga) under administrative relief to give way to the investigation,” she added.

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