PRRD orders dismissal of PNP execs over body cam extort case

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech during the 80th anniversary of the Department of National Defense at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on November 20, 2019. ACE MORANDANTE/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he has ordered the dismissal of three police majors accused of extorting money from bidders in the acquisition of 3,000 body-worn cameras.

Duterte bared this during a speech at the 80th anniversary of the Department of National Defense (DND) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

“The three majors who were working on the body camera. They were arguing because maybe…because of money, because of corruption. So I said, ‘Fire them. Dismiss them,’” Duterte said.

“If they do not want to be dismissed, just do not allow them to enter the camp.

Just tell him you are no longer a policeman,’” he added.

He said it did not matter to him if the accused police majors complained about being dismissed while investigation is ongoing.

“Never mind the investigation. We’ll come to that later,” he said.

Earlier, Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge, Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, identified the three cops as Majors Emerson Sales and Rholly Caraggayan, who are now both AWOL (Absent Without Official Leave); and Angel Beros, who is still in active service.

Gamboa bared that the PNP Internal Affairs Service had concluded its probe on the three police majors and had recommended their dismissal from service.

The three cops’ illegal activities were exposed by one of the losing bidders in the PHP334-million body cam project, Gamboa said.

He noted that the trio allegedly asked for PHP5 million from the bidder who supposedly paid the amount but was still disqualified from the bidding.

Gamboa said he plans to sign the dismissal order for the three cops on Monday.

The trio will be given 10 days to appeal his decision, he said.