5 SPD cops nabbed for P.2-M extort try

MANILA, Philippines — Five members of the District Special Operations Unit (DSOU) of the Southern Police District (SPD) were arrested Wednesday night on allegations of extortion.

Police Officer 3 Simon Respicio, Police Officer 2 Jimmy Abadines, Police Officer 1 Randy Mangubat, Kervilyn Dugyave and Moli Esmail were accused of demanding P200,000 from Roselyn Genorga, 55, after they arrested her for allegedly collecting “loteng” bet money.

The police officers were arrested in a sting after Genorga’s daughter filed a robbery-extortion complaint against them, according to SPD director Chief Superintendent Tomas Apolinario. 

The five are detained at the Taguig police station.  

Apolinario also relieved all of the 12 other police officers under the DSOU, including Superintendent Rolando Baula, who heads the unit. He was replaced by Chief Inspector Jerry Amendalan, who is also the chief of the SPD’s drug enforcement unit.    

“We will determine if there were lapses on the command responsibilities of Baula and if he violated certain laws,” Apolinario said. 

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said he gave instructions to file administrative charges against the five police officers.

“They don’t deserve a single day in the service,” he said, adding that if he had been present during the entrapment operation, he might have cut off their necks in anger.

Apolinario said Genorga was brought to the DSOU for questioning and the five policemen initially demanded P200,000 but later lowered it to P50,000.

Genorga’s daughter identified the five police officers. She said she gave P25,000 to one of them. Apolinario said the police officers returned the money after their arrest.  

Apolinario said the five police officers are facing charges of robbery-extortion and violation of Republic Act 6713, the code of conduct for public officials and employees. – With Ghio Ong, Emmanuel Tupas