The PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) nabbed a police ambulance driver of the PNP Health Service who extorted P100,000 from a police applicant in an entrapment operation in Camarin, Caloocan City.
PNP Chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar identified the suspect as S/Sgt. Joel Bunagan, 37. He was immediately subjected to summary dismissal proceedings.
Bunagan was caught in an entrapment operation on Monday around 3 pm in Waling-Waling Street, Sampaguita Subdivision, Barangay 175, Camarin, Caloocan City, following a complaint by a police applicant that the suspect demanded P100,000 for his application to be processed.
Seized from the suspect were several P1,000 made money, an iPhone, and a Keeway 125 blue and black motorcycle.
According to Eleazar, he is already investigating why the said policeman remained in the service. It is also being ascertained who Bunagan’s accomplices are.
It appears that Bunagan first had a case on April 8, 2020. The case stemmed from a complaint by a police applicant of Barangay Kaligayahan, Novaliches, Quezon City.
Cop arrested for extorting police applicant
Bunagan allegedly promised that applicants with health problems would be able to pass the medical examination in exchange for a P100,000.00-P150,000 fee.
“Sobrang tapang din ng hiya nito na nahuli na dati at nabuko, nakasuhan pa. Pero hindi pa rin tumigil sa kabulastugan,” said Eleazar.
Bunagan is currently detained at the IMEG detention facility in Camp Crame and faces charges of violating RA 11032.
Last week, PNP Chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar was targeting to recruit about 17,000 police officers to replace those corrupt and reprimanded as part of his internal cleansing.
According to Eleazar, he will ensure that the applicants go through the proper recruitment process and not give weight to those with “prescriptions” or referral letters.
“Sa internal cleansing, magsisimula ito sa recruitment ng 17,000 na pulis for this year. Gusto natin tanggalin ang corruption, padrino system at palakasan,” said Eleazar.
Eleazar said that with ‘prescriptions,’ corruption begins. Although it is not “totally disapproved,” the new national police chief clarified that it would be based more on an applicant’s talent, intellect, and capacity.
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