Cabbie who accused two cops of extortion recants statement

The taxi driver who earlier accused two policemen of extortion yesterday recanted his statement, claiming he only fabricated the story to pressure the cops to settle the P1,700 fare from Cebu City to Oslob town that they had earlier agreed on.

Last September 5, Joselito Postrano of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, reported to Supt. Pablo Labra that Inspector Christan Antonio Garcia and PO2 Dennis Tagolino hired him to take them to Oslob, reportedly for a drug operation there, and take them back to Cebu City. He alleged that the cops arrested someone engaged in illegal drug activities there but did not take the suspect to any police station or unit. Instead, the cops allegedly extorted money from the suspect in exchange for freedom.

However, in his retraction, Postrano said that the two cops promised to pay him P1,700 fare to Oslob where they met a Caucasian national named Per Giswold. Postrano also said that the cops promised to shoulder fuel expenses as well. To his dismay, only P500 was handed over to him. This prompted him to report the matter to Labra and fabricate the story.

"I made up the story against PO2 Dennis Tagolino and Inspector Christian Antonio Garcia because I was not satisfied with their payment. Thus, I indict them of a crime of which they are innocent of and reported the matter to P/Supt. Pablo Labra. Also, in order to provide reason to my employer (taxi operator) of my failure to pay for three days rental of the taxi unit," part of the affidavit read.

Postrano said he made and signed the affidavit last Thursday, September 7, without being harassed or intimidated by the said cops.

He also said he received P2,000 from a friend who was reportedly asked by Tagolino to give him the money as payment for the taxi fare.

Meanwhile, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 deputy director Chief Supt. Jacob Macabali has already ordered Tagolino stripped of his issued firearm and badge and ordered him restricted to camp for five days while undergoing investigation.

But Garcia who is a former member of the CIDG-7 could not be included in the camp restrictions anymore since he is assigned in another province under the Police Regional Office-7. - Edwin Ian Melecio