11 Manila cops axed for extortion

MANILA, Philippines — Eleven officers of the Manila Police District (MPD)’s anti-drug unit, including its chief, have been relieved from their posts for alleged extortion.

MPD Station 14 commander Lt. Col. Brillante Billaoac ordered the relief of Maj. Gil John Lobaton and 10 of his men while they are being investigated.

According to MPD spokesman Maj. Philipp Ines, personnel of the Barbosa police station were accused of extorting P45,000 from two women.

Some members of the MPD Station 14’s drug enforcement unit allegedly staged an anti-narcotics operation in a place under the jurisdiction of the Moriones police station on Nov. 7, according to a Facebook post by tabloid journalist Joey Galicia Venancio.

The suspects searched a house and arrested two women without any warrant, Venancio alleged.

The women were brought to a house in front of the Barbosa police station in Quiapo.

Venancio posted a video showing some men entering what looked like a house along an alley.

Six policemen, whom Venancio identified by their surnames and wore face masks, allegedly demanded money from the victims.

The victims were released after payment was made.

Ines described Lobaton as a “decorated police officer,” who received commendation from the city government in April after his team seized around P11 million worth of shabu during a sting.