5 Laguna cops face dismissal

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Five Laguna policemen are facing summary dismissal for alleged robbery and extortion.

Police Officer 2 John Morris Alicbusan, PO1s Glecerio Cruzen and Clayson Benabese and PO3s Troyluss Ambrocius Yldeso and Warren Ryan Carpena were placed under restrictive custody at this camp.

Meat trader Rommel de la Cruz and his wife Cristy filed kidnapping and grave misconduct charges against the police officers last month. The Office of the Ombudsman downgraded the charges to robbery and extortion.

The couple said they had just dropped off their daughter at mall in Sta. Rosa when the policemen who were wearing civilian clothes asked them to pull over and brought them to a slaughterhouse in Barangay Balibago.

The policemen allegedly demanded P1 million from the couple in exchange for excluding them in anti-drug operations, but later lowered the amount to P120,000.