Cop arrested for extortion in Manila

MANILA, Philippines - A policeman was arrested in Manila on Friday for allegedly demanding money from a drug suspect in exchange for a lower criminal charge.

Police Officer 1 Raymund Gulapa, was arrested by operatives from the Philippine National Police’s Counter Intelligence Task Force (CITF) and Manila Police District (MPD) along Pier 12 in Tondo at around 10 p.m.

A 9mm pistol and a .38 caliber revolver were confiscated from Gulapa.

His alleged accomplice, Police Officer 1 Raymond Casas, escaped during the entrapment operation but he and Police Officer 1 Ell Tabing surrendered at around 2 a.m. yesterday at the MPD Station 11, where they are assigned.

“They were disarmed of their respective service firearms and will be brought to CITF headquarters for processing and possible inquest,” CITF chief Senior Superintendent Jose Chiquito Malayo said in a text message.

Malayo said Gulapa, an anti-narcotics operative assigned to the MPD Station 11, demanded P15,000 from the father of Jayvare Manubag, who was arrested last July 7 for possession of illegal drugs.

The amount was lowered to P10,000 in return for the filing of a lower offense against Manubag. Instead of yielding to the demand, the drug suspect’s father lodged a complaint before the CITF.

Gulapa and Casas are facing charges of robbery extortion while police are still determining Tabing’s possible involvement.