MANILA, Philippines - A Manila Police District (MPD) policeman who was relieved from his post yesterday denied extorting money and threatening a Bureau of Customs (BOC) employee following a traffic altercation last Saturday.
Police Officer 2 Arvin Lucky Salvacion showed a medical certificate, a copy of the settlement he and complainant Joseph Hernandez Jr. signed and a receipt for the repair of his damaged motorcycle.
Hernandez, a data analyst at the BOC, filed charges of robbery-extortion, coercion and grave threat against Salvacion after their motorcycles collided at the corner of Zamora street and Quirino Avenue in Pandacan before midnight on Saturday.
Hernandez told Chief Inspector Alexander Rodrigo that he was maneuvering his motorcycle when Salvacion, reportedly speeding, hit his front tire.
The impact caused Salvacion’s vehicle to crash and the policeman sustained injuries.
Hernandez claimed Salvacion was drunk, accosted him, asked for his license and showed a gun that was tucked in his waistband.
Hernandez said Salvacion, who is detailed at the MPD Station 9’s investigation section, was not in uniform when the incident happened, but admitted that he was carrying a student permit.
During the settlement, the policeman asked for P20,000. Hernandez said he produced P19,000 with the help of his friends to avoid any trouble but told his officemates about his plight.
Proof
Salvacion said closed-circuit television footage from cameras in the area will prove that Hernandez, who was drinking with his friends on the sidewalk, was responsible for the mishap.
He added that he did not show his gun but shouted that he was a police officer because Hernandez’s drinking buddies rushed to attack him as he was lying on the pavement.
Salvacion denied that he was drunk and showed footage that he reported for work after the incident.
He also showed that a receipt indicating that the repair of his motorcycle cost P29,000, way above the money given by Hernandez.
Senior Superintendent Danilo Macerin, chief of the MPD directorial staff, said he heard Salvacion’s side but the relief order stands until the investigation is completed.
“If he is exonerated then he will be reinstated,” Macerin told The STAR.
Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde said Salvacion will undergo a 45-day retraining program at the NCRPO’s regional police holding and administrative unit.
He will join the 37 Taguig police officers, whose precinct commander was arrested for extortion, in the program, which will start next week.