THE head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR) and 12 of his personnel were dismissed from their posts amid corruption allegations.
Sacked were CIDG-NCR regional chief Col. Hansel Marantan, two other CIDG-NCR officers and 10 non-commissioned officers who took part in a “questionable” arrest in Parañaque City on March 13.
CIDG director BGen. Romeo Caramat Jr. said that his order was based on the complaint of a group of Chinese businessmen who sought the assistance of PNP Deputy Chief for Administration LtGen. Rhodel Sermonia.
The complainants said the CIDG operatives arrived at a house in Parañaque City and told them that they were responding to noise complaints from neighbors.
“They started arresting the people and then allegedly, their offense was illegal gambling,” Sermonia said in an interview on Thursday.
While they were being arrested, the victims claimed that the policemen took two expensive watches, a Patek Philippe and Richard Mille, several pieces of jewelry and money amounting to P3 million from a vault.
Sermonia said the CIDG operatives brought the 13 Chinese to the CIDG-NCR office in Camp Crame. According to the complainants, the arresting officers demanded money from them in exchange for their freedom.
Caramat clarified that the relief of Marantan was based on the concept of command responsibility, since those involved were his officers.
“In fairness to Col. Hansel Marantan, I just received a courtesy resignation from him, being the regional chief of the NCR field unit, maybe so as not to influence the investigation we are doing regarding the robbery extortion,” the CIDG chief said.
“The matter is now being investigated. Their relief is an SOP (standard operating procedure) so as not to have undue influence over the case,” he added.
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Author: Franco Jose C. Baroña
