PNP-IMEG arrests 4 cops, civilian employee for drinking, online ‘sabong’ (Sabong News)
Author
Dhel Nazario, Jeffrey G. Damicog, and Rey G. Panaligan
Date
JUNE 20 2019
Four policemen and a civilian employee of the Philippine National Police (PNP) were arrested after they were caught engaging in a drinking session in Cubao, Quezon City.
The worse part, according to Police Colonel Romeo Caramat, was that the four were also betting on an online cockfighting or e-sabong when they were collared inside a restaurant in Barangay Bagong Lipunan.
Caramat is the head of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG), formerly Counter-Intelligence Task Force, the anti-scalawag unit of the PNP.
“This is in violation of the directive of President Duterte to refrain from drinking and gambling,” said Caramat.
Nabbed were Senior Master Sergeant Gerry Ocampo, assigned at the Crime Laboratory; Senior Master Sergeant Demetrio Laroya, Staff Sergeant Erwin Gobis, and Corporal Ariel Pasion, all of the Health Service; and civilian employee Leo Ocinar, working at the Directorate for Personnel Records and Management.
Also collared were former policeman Fidel Agustin, who is currently working for his reinstatement in the police service; and Teddy Carpio, owner of an online game establishment.
“The operation stemmed from the reports received by IMEG that several policemen are frequently seen engaged in an online betting and drinking spree at the said establishment,” said Caramat.
Seized during the operation were bet money amounting to P14,430, two television sets used for online gambling, digital video recorder, a roll of betting ticket, two signal high-definition digital box, and 23 bottles of wines.
Caramat said their verification disclosed that only one e-sabong license was issued and it was given to Phil Cockfighting International Inc located in Pampanga.
Caramat said all those arrested will be charged and additional administrative cases would be filed against the PNP personnel.
More than a hundred policemen were arrested since the PNP created an anti-scalawag unit in 2017, following the kidnap-slay of South Korean executive Jee Ick Joo by anti-illegal drugs operatives.
Most of those arrested are for extortion, ranging from demands of iPhones to huge sum of money.
This is the first salvo for the newly-created IMEG.
