4 Quezon City cops sacked for robbery, extortion

MANILA, Philippines – Four members of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) were relieved from their posts yesterday after a motorist whom they arrested over a traffic violation last week charged them with robbery and extortion.

Sacked were Police Officers 3 Teodoro Morales and Drazen Calix Banatao, PO2 Juan de Asis Jr. and PO1 Philip John Laylo, all assigned with the QCPD Traffic Management Unit.

A complaint for robbery and extortion was filed against them by Rex Macabeo Jr. before the city prosecutor’s office, QCPD director Senior Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar said.

Eleazar said the police officers have been disarmed and placed in the custody of the District Headquarters Support Unit.

He said administrative charges are also being readied against the policemen.

The police officers were accused of stealing P31,000 in cash and extorting P360 from Macabeo.

Investigation showed that Macabeo was driving along Commonwealth Avenue when a police car blocked his path and pulled him over for a supposed traffic violation at around 7 p.m. on Nov. 4.

The police officers allegedly searched the trunk of Macabeo’s car.  They refused to disclose the traffic violation he supposedly committed. 

When they found a knife in Macabeo’s car, the policemen told him that he could face 12 years in prison for possession of a bladed weapon.

Macabeo said he was allowed to leave after Morales allegedly took the P360 placed in his driver’s license holder.

When Macabeo reached home, he said the P31,000 in cash kept in his pocket was missing.

Eleazar said investigators confirmed that Macabeo took the money, which he used to pay for the hospital bills of his pregnant wife.

The QCPD chief said police officers are not authorized to search a motorist’s car since only visual inspections are allowed even at police checkpoints.

Eleazar appealed to the public to report policeme n involved in extortion.