(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines — A former chief of the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) Special Operations Division (SOD) is currently facing an administrative case following the complaint lodged by five officers over allegedly taking P7 million in bribes from an arrested suspect for “special treatment and for [fixing] the case.”

Ex-HPG officer faces P7M bribery probe

In a statement on Friday, Napolcom identified the official as former SOD head Col. Rommel Casanova Estolano.

According to Napolcom, the allegations stemmed from a June 13 operation resulting in the arrest of a certain “J.J. Javier” and his companion in Parañaque City.

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Reportedly, the suspects were caught with a C4 explosive device, a pistol and live ammunition.

“Instead of upholding the case, however, the officers claimed Estolano engaged in ‘a series of illegal and corrupt acts’ designed to shield Javier from prosecution while punishing those who resisted his directives,” Napolcom said.

It added that the officers accused the HPG-SOD chief of asking P4 million from the suspect to weaken the charges, P2 million to get a Parañaque case dismissed and P1 million for special treatment while in detention.

The complaint against Estolano indicates that he was “liable” for grave misconduct, dishonesty, dereliction of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.