SENATOR Panfilo Lacson on Thursday said he had video clips showing policemen not only planting evidence but also robbing their victims, clearly showing the illegal activities being committed by rogue members of the Philippine National Police.
During a hearing of the Senate committee on public order and illegal drugs that he heads, Lacson said the kidnapping and murder of Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo was not an isolated case.
“I have in my possession a CCTV video of other illegal activities of policemen,” Lacson said.
His video showed a man who put shabu inside the drawers in an office, and a few minutes later operatives of the raiding team arrived there.
After planting the shabu, the police officers robbed the victim of P7 million and then ordered him to cough up P2 million more. The video showed that the raid took place on Oct. 26, 2016.
But Lacson, a former police chief, said he would no longer reveal the identity of the victim who did not want to file a complaint out of fear for his life.
“He was very scared. He did not want to complain,” Lacson said.
“That’s what I am talking about. Trust is something that you should earn. It can’t be demanded. You can’t tell the victim to file a report. You should show them that you’re able to address their problems.”
Lacson told the Senate hearing, which was looking into the kidnapping of the South Korean national, that rogue policemen would not be charged if their victims refused to file a complaint.
He said nothing was worse than what happened to Jee who was strangled to death inside Camp Crame and was later cremated.
Jee was taken from his house in Angeles City on Oct. 18 last year along with his maid Marisa Morquicho and brought to Camp Crame.
“This is not an isolated case but just one of many others,” Lacson said.
He said there were 12 other victims of rogue policemen based on a report given to him by Teresita Ang See of the Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order.
All the victims did not file a complaint out of fear.
“It takes time to earn the trust of the people, of the civilian populace, especially the victims,” Lacson said.
“If you hear about a kidnapping or extortion, don’t wait for the victims to volunteer to complain. Pursue them, find conduits, an emissary to convince them that you can solve the case. That’s the only time you will earn the trust of the people to voluntarily complain.”
He reminded Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa of his huge responsibility.
Dela Rosa vowed to rid the PNP of rogue cops. He promised to form a strong counter-intelligence unit to monitor policemen.
