3 PNP-ACG men fired for tinkering Malate scam hub CCTV
THREE members of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group have been relieved from their posts and are now facing administrative investigation after they were accused of tinkering with CCTV cameras on the 23rd floor of the Century Peak Tower in Malate, Manila which they raided last October 29.
The three whose names were withheld were reported to have covered the CCTV cameras in the area while they were serving a Warrant to Search, Seize and Examine Computer Data issued by a local court against personalities behind a reported ‘Love Scam and Cryptocurrency Scam.’
Reports surfaced that during the operation, the police officers were seen walking in the hallway without their upper garments as there was a very hot temperature in the area after the building.
The PNP-ACG said that an initial investigation showed that in the afternoon of October 31, the building’s elevator and air conditioning systems were intentionally shut down by the management.
As a result, the PNP-ACG personnel who were guarding the area were forced to remove their shirts and walk in the hallway due to the intense heat. They also twisted and covered the hallway cameras to prevent the device from recording them.
The cameras in the raided work stations however were untouched, said the PNP-ACG.
The PNP-ACG officers on duty in the area also claimed that the building administrator, chief security officer, and other personnel last October 31 also used the elevators in going up and down but eventually shut them down forcing the policemen to use the stairs in going to the 23rd floor from the ground floor.
PNP-ACG director, Major General Ronnie Francis M. Cariaga agreed that the actions of his men were ‘unprofessional’ when viewed on the building’s CCTV recordings. Thus, he ordered the relief of the three cybercops involved and ordered their administrative investigation.
“The PNP ACG is concerned about the welfare of the police officers, but we take this incident very seriously and will not tolerate such actions. Sanctions will be imposed if these police officers are found liable,” the official said.
The three were transferred to the ACG Personnel Holding and Accounting Section while undergoing an administrative probe.
NAPOLCOM PROBES RAID
National Police Commission vice chair and executive officer Alberto A. Bernardo said they are ready to investigate accusations of irregularity allegedly committed during the raid although he cited that ‘acts done in the performance of official duty are protected by the presumption of good faith’ referring to a Sandiganbayan decision in March 1999.
The official said that the October 29 operation to serve the Warrant to Search, Seize and Examine Computer Data (WSSECD) issued by the Manila City Regional Trial Court Branch 40 was conducted at the Century Peak Tower in Ermita, Manila and joined by representatives from the Securities and Exchange Commission, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and local barangay officials.
“Complaints have been filed by lawyers representing the raided facility against officials and personnel of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), focusing on two specific incidents: The first incident involves the subjects of WSSECD No. 24-35173 located on the 23rd floor of the building, where SEC, PAGCOR, and other officials were present,” he said.
