2 cops in extort try arrested

Two Cebu City policemen were arrested last night in an entrapment operation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation for alleged extortion activity.

PO1 Leo Batigalao and PO2 Robert Cuyos were caught in possession of the P10,000 marked money near a gasoline station along B. Rodriguez street past 6:00 p.m. yesterday.

NBI regional director Medardo Delemos said his bureau acted on a complaint for extortion filed by couple Francisco and Dalia Nabua against the two policemen who are assigned at the Vice Control Section of the Cebu City Police Office.

Delemos said the Nabua couple sought the NBI assistance the other day after Batigalao and Cuyos allegedly demanded P100,000 from them on top of the P95,000 they already gave last month to prevent the filing of a case for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act against Francisco.

According to Delemos, the two policemen arrested Francisco last May 14 in A. Lopez, barangay Labangon for alleged possession of illegal drugs. Batigalao and Cuyos allegedly demanded P95,000 so that no charges will be filed, in which Francisco had acceded. However, the suspects lately demanded P100,000 from the couple allegedly to prevent the arrest of Dalia, whom they accused as drug pusher. The couple negotiated for P20,000 for they no longer have money to pay for the policemen's demand, which they eventually settled for P30,000.

Batigalao and Cuyos allegedly ordered the couple to deliver the money to the gasoline station along B. Rodriguez Street yesterday where they were arrested by the NBI operatives.

Delemos said that charges of extortion would be filed today against the two policemen.