MANILA, Philippines — Two police officers were apprehended by operatives of the Philippine National Police Counter-Intelligence Task Force (CITF) for allegedly extorting money from public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers in Pasay City on Tuesday.
Police Officer 2 Jerry Jubail and PO1 Michael Domalanta, both assigned with the Malibay police community precinct (PCP) 7, were nabbed in an entrapment operation along M. De la Cruz street at around 4:15 p.m., according to CITF director Senior Superintendent Jose Chiquito Malayo.
Malayo said the operation stemmed from a complaint that Jubail and Domalanta were allegedly collecting P300 up to P500 from drivers of buses and Asian utility vans at an illegal terminal in the area.
“We have been receiving reports about their extortion activities since last year,” Malayo told reporters.
He said Jubail and Domalanta laid low for several months following a crackdown on rogue policemen last year.
The two allegedly resumed their illegal activities last month.
Malayo said the suspects even appointed a person who would collect money from the PUV drivers.
PCP 7 head Chief Inspector Glen Siguan was relieved from his post following the arrest of Jubail and Domalanta, assistant city police chief Superintendent Gene Lucid said.
Siguan was previously spared from relief when then National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde caught him sleeping while on duty.
Charges of robbery and extortion were filed against the suspects before the Department of Justice yesterday.
The CITF has arrested 71 lawmen, three police officials and 68 personnel for involvement in various illegal activities since January 2017, according to Malayo. – With Ghio Ong, Edu Punay