AS the holiday season approaches, the Philippine National Police has renewed its warnings against fraudulent solicitations that exploit the public.
Acting PNP Chief Lt Gen. Jose Melencio ‘Tateng’ Nartatez Jr. has repeatedly emphasized that no officer is allowed to use the PNP’s name for any form of solicitation.
Yet despite this clear directive, disturbing allegations have surfaced involving Police Sergeant Sagpao — claims serious enough to demand immediate and transparent investigation.
Reports alleged that Sagpao has been running a wide-ranging extortion scheme across CALABARZON, operating under several aliases such as “Jessie” in Laguna, “Roger” in Cavite and “Amboy” in Batangas and Quezon.
These aliases were allegedly used to conceal a pattern of demands targeting gambling operators throughout Region4A.
According to these accounts, Sagpao purportedly pressured each operator to pay ₱80,000, invoking the names of four PNP offices: the Region 4A CIDG, Region 4A Special Operations Group, Region 4A Intelligence Unit and even the Regional Director’s Office, demanding ₱20,000 for each unit.
With over a hundred gambling dens reportedly operating across CALABARZON, the potential scale of this alleged operation could amount to millions of pesos.
If these claims prove true, the implications are alarming. Not only do they expose a blatant abuse of authority, but they also undermine the credibility of the very institutions responsible for law enforcement.
Worse, it casts a shadow over the PNP’s intensified campaign against holiday scams — an effort aimed at protecting the public during a season known for heightened vulnerability to fraud.
This is a pivotal moment for the highest official of the PNP. These allegations require swift action, firm accountability, and an unmistakable message that corruption has no place within the PNP.
As people prepare for the holidays, they deserve assurance that those sworn to protect them are not the ones exploiting their trust.
