As two Makati City police were nabbed for alleged extortion, the Philippine National Police over the weekend vowed to rid its organization of misfits and scalawags.

From 1 July to 7 December this year, a total of 1,211 PNP personnel had been meted out sanctions, from privileges withheld or dismissal from the service.

As of Friday, 279 PNP members had been dismissed over different administrative cases, while 79 were demoted. Likewise, 472 were suspended and 381 were meted the penalties of forfeiture of salary, reprimand, restriction to quarters, and withholding of privileges.

On the same day, the PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group led by P/Brig. Gen. Warren de Leon reported to PNP chief General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. the arrest of two rookie cops for alleged extortion.

Those nabbed were identified as Patrolman Mark Dann Advincula, 32, and Patrolman Joseph Segador, 31, both assigned at the Makati City substation 6.

The two were arrested by PNP-IMEG operatives in an entrapment operation along A. Mabini Street in Poblacion, Makati based on the complaint of a woman whose two smartphones were allegedly seized by the cops.

The report said Advincula and Segador demanded money from the woman for the release of her phones. The woman was also the subject of a complaint by a foreign national for theft of his automated teller machine card and money.

IMEG agents cuffed the cops when they received the marked money from the woman. Seized from them were two service pistols and the money dusted with photo fluorescent powder.

The suspects were detained at the IMEG office in Camp Crame, Quezon City.