A civilian claiming to be the personal driver of Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office officer-in-charge, Senior Supt. Noli Romana, is being investigated by the Commission on Human Rights for allegedly collecting “tong”, or commission payment, from operators of an illegal gambling game called “panchong”, in Dumaguete City.
“Panchong” is a Chinese gambling game using domino blocks and is considered illegal, but usually held during wakes.
CHR investigator Jess Cañete said yesterday the agency and the National Bureau of Investigation have verified the alleged extortion activities of a certain Ronald Pineda.
He said Winnie Salatan of Banilad, Dumaguete City, and motorcycle-for-hire driver Feleciano Encilay filed an affidavit-complaint accusing Pineda of extorting money from them several times.
The tong varied from P1,500 to P4,500 a day, they added.
Cañete said NBI operatives arranged for a “test payment” and the pay off was caught on video, and presented to the media.
Alleged “extortion” text messages sent by Pineda to the two complainants have also been transcribed and can be used as evidence, Cañete added.
Meanwhile, Romana denied having a civilian driver named Pineda.
He said that when he was assigned to Negros Oriental before the May 13 elections, he brought with him a non-commissioned police officer but not a civilian driver. He said drivers assigned to him are all uniformed police personnel.
But Romana said a certain “Ronald” had introduced himself as an informant of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and had offered his services to him.
He said he accommodated that person in the hope that he would prove useful. “I referred him to the Intelligence Branch for assessment, validation and evaluation of his capability as informant”, Romana said.
An irate Romana vowed to investigate the alleged extortion incident that dragged his name. He said he will not tolerate any wrongdoings and will cooperate with the investigation.
Romana also said he would be able to identify from the video of the payoff transaction if “Ronald” and the suspected extortionist is the same person. (PNA/JFP)
