7 Parañaque cops nabbed for robbery extortion

MANILA, Philippines — Seven police officers assigned with the Parañaque City police station were arrested for extorting P100,000 from a Chinese businessman they apprehended at a checkpoint on Thursday night.

Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin, National Capital Region Police Office director, said the officers underwent inquest proceedings for robbery extortion before the Parañaque prosecutor’s office.

Aberin did not disclose the identities of the police officers but said they include a substation commander with the rank of a major and his subordinates – a lieutenant, a master sergeant, a staff sergeant and three patrolmen.

Another police officer involved in the extortion remains at large.

“No scalawag will go scot-free. All will be arrested, charged and dismissed from the service based on evidence and legal process,” Aberin said in a statement in Filipino.

The incident occurred last Thursday at around 7:20 p.m. when the suspects, who are with the Sto. Niño police substation 3, flagged down a vehicle driven by a Chinese national along Macapagal Boulevard in Barangay Don Galo.

Aberin said the police officers, who were manning a checkpoint, asked the 25-year-old victim for the vehicle's documents.

When the victim presented the papers, the officers said these were falsified.

The businessman was brought to the police station where he was allegedly asked to give P300,000 in exchange for the vehicle’s release.

Speaking through an interpreter, the victim negotiated for a lower amount and paid P100,000.

Aberin said investigators are working to secure the interpreter’s testimony.