2 Manila cops held for extortion

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police Counter-Intelligence Task Force (PNP-CITF) yesterday arrested two Manila Police District (MPD) policemen allegedly involved in extortion.

Tension broke out as elite Special Action Force (SAF) troopers raided the MPD’s District Special Operations Unit (DSOU) office along United Nations Avenue at around 12:30 a.m.

A video clip provided by the CITF showed SAF commandos in full battle gear and armed with long firearms entering the DSOU office. They ordered everyone inside to lay down on the ground.

Police Officers 1 Erdie Bautista and MJ Cerilla were arrested during the raid, CITF commander Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat Jr. said in his report.

They also took into custody police helper Ricky Sayson, who reportedly received the money.

Caramat said the two and four other policemen asked P100,000 in exchange for the release of eight persons they arrested in Sta. Mesa at around 5 p.m. on Wednesday on charges of human trafficking.

He named the other policemen allegedly involved in the extortion as Police Officers 3 Michael Chavez and Dindo Encina, and Police Officers 1 Arcadio Orbis and Martinico Mario.

DSOU head Chief Inspector Joselito de Ocampo was removed from his post for command responsibility.

The wife of one of the victims went to the CITF office in Camp Crame after the Manila policemen demanded money.

“The complainant negotiated to lower the demand and agreed at P50,000,” said Caramat.

Based on their verification, Caramat said the policemen involved did not submit a written report of the operation to the MPD tactical operations center. The operation was also not filed in the police blotter.

Bautista, Cerilla and Sayson were brought to Camp Crame for further investigation. They are facing charges of kidnap for ransom.

Enforcer sacked

Meanwhile, a traffic enforcer of the city government was removed from his post after a video showing him extorting P2,000 from an American and his Filipina wife went viral on Wednesday.

The video, which reached more than two million views on Facebook, showed Ferdinand Borja of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) issuing an ordinance violation receipt after the American reportedly violated the number coding scheme.

MTPB chief Dennis Alcoreza, in a press conference, said he relieved Borja and his immediate superior, sector commander Jay Gutierrez.

He added that MTPB enforcers will no longer be allowed to issue tickets.