I’M posing this question in the aftermath of the 10-day administrative relief of National Capital Region Police Office director Major General Sidney Hernia and PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group director Maj. Gen. Ronnie Cariaga following questions raised on their involvement in the controversial October 29 raid on a suspected “scam hub” in Ermita, Manila.

Having covered the national police force over the past 34 years, I have been privy to countless cases of police generals who, after being administratively relieved from their post for various reasons, were unable to return to their previous positions, some of them sent into the “freezer” literally before being “resurrected” and being given other positions of major responsibility after months or even years of silently agonizing on what hit them.

Last June, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil ordered the administrative relief of then PNP Director for Operations Maj. Gen. Ronald Lee, Police Regional Office 11 director Brigadier Gen. Aligre Martinez and PNP Intelligence Group director Colonel Edwin Portento following a foiled effort to arrest fugitive Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

Along with the three officials, 12 other members of the PNP-CIDG, the local Traffic Enforcement Unit and the PNP-SAF were also administratively relieved to give way for an investigation aimed at determining if there were really lapses, excessive force or negligence of supervision during the foiled effort to arrest Quiboloy last June.

The rest is history as Quiboloy is now being held at the maximum-security PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame following his capture last September following a 2-week operation inside the sprawling Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City by the police force headed by Brig. Gen. Nick Torre, the official who replaced Martinez and who is now the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director.

In the case of the officials relieved last June, only Maj. Gen. Lee has returned as director of the National Police Training Institute. Martinez and Portento, who remained a colonel, are yet to get new positions.

During the previous Duterte administration, I still remember that day — exactly on October 18, 2016 — when the country and the whole world was shocked by the kidnapping and murder of Korean businessman Jee Ick-Yoo just a few meters away from the headquarters of the then PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group by a group of rogue officers assigned to the said unit.

The gruesome case in which the Korean victim’s remains were cremated and his remains flushed down a toilet by the suspects prompted FPRRD to apologize to the South Korean government. Then PNP chief, now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa also did the same and even abolished the PNP-AIDG and distributed its officers and men led by then Brigadier Gen. Bert Ferro to different units.

But on June 2017, the National Police Commission issued a resolution approving the PNP recommendation to rename the PNP-AIDG to PNP Drug Enforcement Group. Two 1-star police generals went on to head the PNP-DEG before Ferro returned to the same unit as director. He went on to become a Central Visayas police director and later PNP-CIDG director during the Duterte administration.

However, it really could be an example of the so-called “few exceptions.” Over the next few days, Maj. Generals Hernia and Cariaga would have to wait for the result of the investigation being conducted by a special committee headed by PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Lieutenant Gen. Mike Dubria. Will they be vindicated or not? Will they be returned to their posts?

The allegations against the NCRPO and the PNP-ACG include an alleged extortion try one aired by a lawyer of the foreigners apprehended during the raid at the Century Peak Tower in Ermita which targeted online scammers and illegal POGO operations. Add to that the charges some of the raiders tinkered with the building’s CCTV camera and raided another area not covered by a court-issued Warrant to Search, Seize and Examine Computer Data.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo has reiterated that the administrative relief of the two 2-star generals is not a form of punishment though. “Binibigyang-linaw po namin na walang mali sa operation which was done on the premise of a cyber-warrant issued by a Manila court. But during the conduct of the operation, there were some issues raised particularly the alleged tampering of CCTV cameras,” she said.

“The PNP is standing by the position that legitimate ang operation na conducted but the reason why they were relieved is to give way to an impartial investigation. We will have to see if there are negligence in terms of supervision only, in terms of checking if operational procedures were violated during the operation,” Brig. Gen. Fajardo added.

The official said prior to the October 29 operation, the company called Quantum Solution was formerly known as the Vertex Technology which was confirmed to have been already raided twice by authorities for suspected involvement in fraudulent online activities.

Some of my sources told me that the building was first raided by NCRPO operatives sometime in 2019 which triggered allegations of police abuses and mulcting. The second raid was done by members of a special NBI unit which was completely dissolved after its officers and men were accused of serious irregularities.

HURTING HERNIA

A hurting Major General Sidney Hernia has answered point-by-point all the accusations hurled against him and his men in the aftermath of the October 29 raid at Century Peak building in Ermita, Manila.

First, he described as “absurd and unfounded” the extortion charges aired against him and his 14 men by foreigners apprehended during the Ermita raid.

He however welcomed any investigation into this matter as it will provide them a great opportunity to prove the regularity and legality of their actions. Hernia also maintained that the raid was not coordinated with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission since it is based on a cybercrime warrant which is under the mandate of the PNP-ACG.

“PNP operating units have the discretion to operate by themselves or collaborate. with other agencies to maintain operational security and avoid compromise. The operation targeting the scam hub is a response to the call of the President to eradicate illegal offshore gaming in the country,” he said while adding that prior coordination was made by the NCRPO with the Bureau of Immigration to clarify and formalize future operations involving foreign nationals.

He also said the 73 foreign nationals were not arrested but “rescued” as interviews disclosed that they were being forced to perform scamming operations against their will. The foreign nationals were turned over to their respective embassies after proper documentation.

“These claims are maliciously crafted narratives to deliberately target thereputation of the NCRPO chief and question the integrity of the operation,” he also said in answer to what he described as “below-the-belt” accusations against his person, leadership and integrity.

Hernia called on the public to wait for the result of the investigation ordered by PNP chief, General Rommel Marbil first before judging them.

“These sweeping and generalized claims are malicious and false. The public is requested to rely on verified information rather than unsubstantiated accusations. The concerned agencies welcome any unbiased investigation that would thoroughly investigate any claim of irregularity in the performance of their duties. These would also allow the concerned personnel to present evidence and defend themselves in the proper forum,” he said.

He added that unfounded accusations and comments against them are also “more of a tirade rather than criticism.” Calling the police “tanga” or “patola” is not only an attempt to malign the reputation of the PNP but also an insult that encourages disrespect from the members of the society.

“It is important to address concerns or criticisms constructively, rather
than resorting to invectives that only harm the credibility of the police force in particular and the government in general,” exclaimed one of the brightest products of Philippine Military Academy ‘Tanglaw-Diwa’ Class of 1992 who joined the police force.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon