LA CASTELLANA, Negros Occidental: A municipal councilor here has been accused of extracting money from 45 residents in exchange for admission to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

In a press conference on Friday, La Castellana Mayor Rhumyla Nicor Mangalimutan said the victims filed separate complaints before the La Castellana Police Station against councilor Donato Dumaguit and a certain Mary Jun de los Santos of Bacolod City.

Mangilimutan said the victims gave money to the suspects, ranging from P247,000 to as much as P300,000 each, for them to enter the police service, even if they were not qualified or eligible to join the police force.

Among the victims, two are residents of Bacolod City, six are residents of Moises Padilla and 37 are residents of La Castellana, according to Mangilimutan, a former police officer turned politician.

The victims said they were told that they would take their oath as fresh PNP recruits on July 2 in Kabankalan City after paying P25,000 more for their board and lodging as well as uniforms.

The mayor said some of the complainants filed blotter reports with A police station in Bacolod City, but they were told by Dumaguit not to include him in the complaint.

The Bacolod City police, however, advised the victims to file the complaint in La Castellana, where the alleged crime was committed.

Maj. Nelson Amsiwen, La Castellana police chief, said they are now getting all the affidavits and statements from the victims to ensure an airtight case against the accused.

While they already have the names of the policemen who are being linked to the alleged scam, Amsiwen said they are conducting further investigations to determine their level of involvement.

Mangalimutan denied having any link to or involvement in the scam.

“My administration does not tolerate any illegal acts, even if they are my relatives or political allies,” the mayor said.

She added that as early as April this year, she was already informed by the National Police Commission provincial office that there were reports of illegal recruitment of civilians who wanted to enter the police service, and a La Castellana councilor was involved.

“I was busy at that time, so I was not focused on it but saw blind items on social media,” Mangalimutan added. ”Napolcom (National Police Commission) sent me a list of persons who have already paid the suspects.”

She noticed that most of the names on the list are children of employees of the municipal government.

“When I asked him (Dumaguit), he denied it, but when I was in the Netherlands, he called me for help to convince the complainants not to include his name,” the mayor added.

Mangalimutan said she told Dumaguit that she could not help him anymore because it is now the PNP, the mayor’s former organization, that he is up against.

“It is the integrity of the PNP application process that you have destroyed,” the mayor told Dumaguit.

Mangalimutan also said that she has sent a letter to PBGen. Sidney villaflor, police regional director, asked for a thorough investigation into the alleged scam.

“The victims seek justice and redress for their grievous experience, and it is our collective duty to ensure that justice prevails,” the Mayor said in her letter to Villaflor.

“I implore you to expedite the investigation process, deploying all necessary resources and expertise to uncover the truth behind these allegations.”

Gary Marvel, 35, one of the complainants, said he has paid P200,000 in three tranches, which was personally received by Dumaguit but without any receipt.

Marvel, who applied in March this year, added that the amount he paid was a “package deal,” as he was assured that all the requirements would be taken care of before the oath-taking and the basic training.

Marfil said his parents pawned their small farm and also borrowed money, which he personally gave to Dumaguit in three installments in March 2023.

Two other victims — Edcel John Salvilla and Fritz Jay Mabus — were both in their late 20s and residents of La Castellana. They said they were recruited by Dumaguit in December 2022.

Salvilla said his parents sold four carabaos to raise the money.

Marfil, meanwhile, could not contain his anger when asked for his message to Dumaguit, whom they claimed was hiding from them.

The whereabouts of Dumaguit are unknown as of press time, although Mangalimutan said the councilor has been absent from the two consecutive regular sessions of the Sanggunian Bayan.

Under their internal rules, any councilor who has been absent for three consecutive sessions can be subject to disciplinary action, she said.

Capt. Judesses Catalogo, spokesman for the Negros Occidental provincial police office, said that no one is authorized to recruit people to enter the police service.

“There is no recruitment. If you’re interested in being a police officer, you can apply personally. One needs to undergo a series of tests like neuropsycho, physical examination and other requirements,” Catalogo said.

Those involved in the scam may face charges for estafa, illegal recruitment and extortion, he also said.