TWO rogue ex-policemen were arrested by agents of the Philippine National Police Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNP-IMEG) in separate anti-criminality operations this week, PNP chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar announced Friday.

The top cop identified the two suspects as Mariano Garcia, a former member of the Regional Crime Laboratory Office 4-A, and ex-Corporal Regie Alilano, formerly assigned with the National Capital Region Police Office’s Personnel Holding and Administrative Section.

Garcia was arrested in an entrapment operation conducted by officers from the PNP-IMEG under Brigadier Gen. Thomas R. Frias Jr. amid charges regarding his involvement in robbery-extortion.

Eleazar said the accused was placed under arrest shortly after he received P5,000 in marked bills from a complainant at the Bee Fuel gas station in Bgy. Calo in Bae, Laguna around 5:20 p.m. Thursday.

The sting was conducted amid complainants that the suspect is extorting money from the drivers of cargo trucks from Batangas and Quezon provinces each time they pass through Laguna.

One complainant said that the ex-cop had demanded a weekly ‘payola’ from him although he has a legitimate business. He said that the accused initially demanded P40,000 weekly from him and his fellow businessmen in exchange for their unhampered passage in Laguna checkpoints.

On the other hand, Alilano, wanted for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, was arrested in a manhunt operation in Malabon City on Tuesday evening.

Alilano was apprehended on the basis of a warrant of arrest for violation of Section 15 of RA 9165 issued by Judge Fritzie Cruz-Rojo of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 67, along McArthur Highway corner Potrero Street in Malabon City 7:50 p.m. Tuesday.

The PNP-IMEG director said the suspect was formerly assigned at the NCRPO-RPHAS and has been facing investigation for his alleged involvement in illegal drug activities.

Section 15 of RA 9165 states that “a person apprehended or arrested, who is found to be positive for use of any dangerous drug, after a confirmatory test, shall be imposed a penalty of a minimum of six (6) months rehabilitation in a government center for the first offense, subject to the provisions of Article VIII of the Act. If apprehended using any dangerous drug for the second time, he/she shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment ranging from six (6) years and one (1) day to twelve (12) years and a fine ranging from Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) to Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00).”

The suspects are now under the custody of the PNP-IMEG in Camp Crame.

“We’re intensifying our monitoring of policemen involved in all forms of illegal activities and assure the public that we will apprehend them as soon as we have built enough evidence against them,” Frias said.

The official called anew on the public to report the presence of rogue policemen and other government workers to their hotlines 09989702286 (Smart) or 09957952569 (Globe).

He said that information may also be forwarded to the Facebook Page: Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group and Twitter account: @imeg2017. He assured the public that the identities of the informants will be kept in utmost secrecy.