Taguig stays firm: ‘Extortion, other illegal activities have no place in our city’

The Taguig government on Tuesday reiterated it does not condone any illegal activities in the city, whether by ordinary citizens or public officers.

The local government issued the statement following the arrest of one policeman, six barangay tanods and their companion, after they allegedly extorted money from a truck helper and driver on Friday.

Police officer Cesar Espejo, 34; Barangay Security Force members Reggie Adrales, 29; Bobby Tejero, 43; Rolly Barcelo, 41; Antonio Bontia, 51; Antonio Bag-Ao, 44; and Marcelino Perdonio; and their companion Stephanie Villanueva, 24, now face charges for illegal possession of firearms, illegal possession of drugs, kidnapping and usurpation of authority after they held a truck helper and his driver in the multipurpose hall of Barangay Western Bicutan for extorting money from the kin of drug suspects in exchange for their release.

Espejo, Adrales, Tejero, Barcelo, Bontia, Bag-Ao and Villanueva were arrested in an entrapment operation organized by the Counter Intelligence Task Force of the Philippine National Police in San Rafael, Bulacan, upon being informed by a female complainant of the ordeal of the victims. Perdonio remains at large.

“Hindi talaga kami nagtotolerate dito ng masamang gawain, kahit sino ka pa. No one is above the law. So kung mapapatunayang nagkasala sila, talagang haharap sila sa katakot takot na kaso. Matatanggal pa sila sa serbisyo,” Barangay Western Bicutan Chairman Nicky Supan, who has jurisdiction over the accused BSF members, said.

Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano was also firm in her stand on errant government employees.

“Taguig is an advocate of upright and honest services. If we receive reports of our own employees doing illegal activities, we will not hesitate to do the necessary action to stop them since it is our commitment to provide just and quality public service to all Taguigeños,” she said.

She also reminded her constituents that they can call hotline 165-7777 to report cases of extortion by law enforcement officers. ###

FILIPINO VERSION

Taguig naninindigan: ‘Extortion, iba pang ilegal na gawain ay walang lugar sa ating lungsod’

Muling binigyang-diin ng pamahalaan ng Taguig noong Martes na hindi nito kinukunsinti ang anumang ilegal na gawain sa lungsod, maging ito man ay gawain ng ordinaryong mamamayan o pampublikong opisyal.

Nagbigay ng pahayag ang lokal na pamahalaan kasunod nang pagkakaaresto ng isang pulis, anim na barangay tanod at kanilang kasama, matapos di-umanong mangikil ng pera mula sa isang truck helper at driver noong Biyernes.

Kinakaharap ngayon nina Police officer Cesar Espejo, 34; mga miyembro ng Barangay Security Force na sina Reggie Adrales, 29; Bobby Tejero, 43; Rolly Barcelo, 41; Antonio Bontia, 51; Antonio Bag-Ao, 44; and Marcelino Perdonio; at kanilang kasama na si Stephanie Villanueva, 24, ang kaso ng illegal possession of firearms, illegal possession of drugs, kidnapping at usurpation of authority matapos nilang arestuhin at dalhin sa multipurpose hall ng Barangay Western Bicutan para kikilan ng pera ang mga kaanak ng mga drug suspects kapalit ng kanilang paglaya.

Naaresto sina Espejo, Adrales, Tejero, Barcelo, Bontia, Bag-Ao at Villanueva sa entrapment operation na isinagawa ng Counter Intelligence Task Force ng Philippine National Police sa San Rafael, Bulacan, matapos mapag-alaman mula sa babaeng complainant ang kalagayan ng mga biktima. Nanatili namang pinaghahanap pa rin si Perdonio.

“Hindi talaga kami nagtotolerate dito ng masamang gawain, kahit sino ka pa. Walang sinuman ang nakatataas sa batas. Kaya kung mapapatunayang nagkasala sila, talagang haharap sila sa katakot takot na kaso. Matatanggal pa sila sa serbisyo,” wika ni Barangay Western Bicutan Chairman Nicky Supan, na may hurisdikyon sa mga akusadong miyembro ng BSF.

Nanatili ring matatag si Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano sa kanyang paninindigan patungkol sa mga tiwaling empleyado ng gobyerno.

“Ang Taguig ay tagataguyod ng tama at tapat na serbisyo. Kung makatanggap man kami ng mga report tungkol sa mga ilegal na gawain ng aming mga empleyado, hindi kami magdadalawang-isip na gawin ang tamang aksyon para pigilan sila bilang ito ang aming pangako na makapagbigay ng patas at dekalidad na serbisyo publiko sa lahat ng Taguigeños,” wika niya.

Muli rin niyang pinaalalahanan ang kanyang mga nasasakupan na maaari silang tumawag sa hotline na 165-7777 upang i-report ang mga kaso ng extortion ng mga opisyal na nagpapatupad ng batas. ###

Taguig City Hall	555- 7800	Police Taguig Mobile Patrol	0921-7221972
Fire Department at City Hall	642-9982	Public Order & Safety Office	642-1261
Fire Department Taguig Central	837-0740 / 837-4496	Taguig Environmental / Solid Waste	642-7557
Fire Department at FTI	837-4496	Traffic Management Office	640-7006
Lake & River Patrol	628-1377	Taguig-Pateros District Hospital	838-34-85
Office of Social Welfare & Development	555-7919	Taguig City Rescue	0919-0703112
PNP Taguig / COP	642-35-82	Taguig Emergency Hotline	165-7777
Tactical Operation Center Police	642-3582	Taguig Command Center	789- 3200
Police	117 / Emergency 1623	Doctors-On- Call	0917- 8210896
Trunkline	555-78-52/555-7854

Taguig stays firm: ‘Extortion, other illegal activities have no place in our city’

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