|
ANGELES CITY, Pampanga: The chief of the Pampanga Crime
Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) disclosed last week that
syndicates proliferating in the city are reportedly using minors to
extort money from foreigners.
In his speech during the directors’ meeting of
Hotel and Restaurants of Pampanga, Inc. (HARP), Supt. Florendo
Saligao also revealed that some policemen “are oftentimes in
cahoots with syndicates and share in the proceeds of the
settlement.”
HARP President Noli Reyes of the Montevista
Resort Villas invited Saligao to speak on several concerns of the
association on security and protection against syndicates and other
lawless elements.
Saligao warned HARP officers to be vigilant
saying that they should disallow persons “tagging along children
and minors inside hotel rooms without proper identification on their
blood relationship.”
“Minors are being exposed to sex trade and
being abused by pedophiles, drug syndicates and those into cybersex
trade,” he said.
He noted that syndicates into cybersex business
are now using hotel rooms for their operations. He also received
reports that they transfer from one hotel to another to prevent
detection.
Saligao said “the modus operandi of syndicates
is that a couple will post as parents of a minor and will file a
complaint in the police station against a foreigner.”
Out of fear of being accused or charged, the
foreigner would be compelled to settle the case (through payment)
with the alleged “parents” for the dismissal of the complaint.
Saligao said he already submitted a report to
his superiors of a case involving some policemen caught in a hotel
video surveillance camera. They are reportedly involved in extorting
money from foreigners using minors.
The CIDU Chief said he is also expecting victims
(mostly foreigners), who already left the country, to come back and
testify against those involved in extortion activities.
He stressed “the necessity of installing
surveillance cameras in business establishments to monitor several
unlawful activities and to identify suspicious looking persons.”
“The cameras cannot lie and those involved
could easily be identified”, he said.
He also vowed to pursue his crusade of tracking
down syndicates involved in various illegal activities like
prostitution and illegal drugs. “I would not mind who would be
involved and charged.”
Saligao also called on his colleagues “to be
true to their sworn duty to protect the people and should not engage
in unlawful acts just to [illegally] benefit from it, to the
prejudice of innocent persons.”
HARP is an association of known hotels and
restaurants in Pampanga. It boasts of 38 affiliated hotels and
restaurants here. Central Luzon Tourism Director Ronnie Tiotuico
also attended the meeting.
-- Joey Aguilar
|
