DOJ indicts Valenzuela cops, accomplice for extortion

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice has charged Valenzuela cops and their accomplice with robbery for extorting money from junk shop owners.

In a five-page inquest resolution, the DOJ, through Assistant State Prosecutor Loverhette Jeffrey Villordon, filed robbery charges against the following:

• SPO4 Serafin Sarapdon Adante
• PO1 Ryand Paul Estapia Antimaro
• PO1 Rey Harvey Azadon Florano
• Amado Baldong Jr.

The case stemmed from the complaint of Danilo Balar, who works at a junk shop where the Valenzuela cops alegedly extorted P200-500 nightly.

According to their one-page complaint filed with aid from the Philippine National Police Counter-Intelligence Task Force, the suspects were operating along Mindanao Avenue Extension, Valenzuela City.

They were allegedly conducting their scheme while on patrol.

The DOJ, in resolving the complaint, said that the elements of the crime of robbery were present in the case.

“There is personal property in the form of the two marked PHP100 belonging to the complainant Balar. The said money was taken by the respondents while they were onboard their patrol car,” read the DOJ resolution.

“The intent to gain is presumed from the taking of things. Finally, there is apparent intimidation of persons as complainant was told by the police to hand over money in order for him not to be ‘inconvenienced’,” the DOJ added.

The DOJ meanwhile recommended further investigation into the complaint against Senior Inspector Adonis Paul Escamillan, as he was not arrested during the entrapment operation.

Balar, however, said that Escamillan “intimidated” him.

Escamillan will be subjected to preliminary investigation on August 13 and 20 at the DOJ.