3 Talisay cops elude NBI in entrapment operation

CEBU, Philippines - Three Talisay City policemen eluded an entrapment operation set up by the National Bureau of Investigation a few meters away from their station yesterday noon after they were accused of extorting money from the family of a drug suspect they arrested last Friday.

Police Officer 2 Roy Sarsaba and PO3s Eric Enad and Martin Corosin III were able to escape from the trap using the police patrol car.

The three agreed to meet with the complainant Elvincito Baguio at the gym near the old Talisay City Hall at noon yesterday to get the P50,000 they demanded to downgrade the drug case against the complainant’s niece.

Baguio’s niece Maridel Obrero was arrested by the Talisay City Police last Friday afternoon in barangay Tangke during a saturation drive.

The suspect allegedly offered to downgrade the case in exchange for money.

Baguio said that it was Sarsaba who told him that they will file the possession only instead of pushing if they can produce P100,000.

According to Baguio, they were able to haggle for P50,000.

Baguio said that at 7 a.m. yesterday Sarsaba called him and reminded of the P50,000 prompting him to seek the help of the NBI.

An entrapment was planned but it did not work out well because Sarsaba and his two companions were very clever.

Sarsaba gave a last minute instruction to Baguio to proceed to the plaza about 20 meters away from the place that they had originally agreed to meet at. The move was apparently to mislead any operative planning to set them up.

In the plaza, a police car arrived with Sarsaba, Enad and Corosin.

Sarsaba ordered Baguio to board the patrol car losing the NBI operatives in the process. While inside the car, Sarsaba asked him if he already had the money.

Baguio said he gave P30,000 including the marked money to Sarsaba who also ordered Enad to count it. The suspects allegedly questioned him why he only gave P30,000 when they have agreed P50,000.

However, Baguio said it was the only amount given to him.

Sarsaba then instructed him to disembark from the patrol car in time for the pursuing NBI operatives to see them.

The NBI operatives led by Atty. Bernard dela Cruz gave a chase but also got lost.

The rest of the team decided to go back to the police station and spotted the patrol car with plate number SHM 926 had just arrived. The driver immediately ran inside the police station prompting the NBI operatives to again give a chase.

The driver however could not be found inside the police station.

The NBI operatives tried to seek the assistance of Talisay City Police Chief Henry Biñas to produce his men involved in the alleged extortion activity.

But, Biñas only said he will ask them to report to the provincial headquarters.

He however allowed the NBI to look at the personal files of the suspects where they were identified by the complainant based on their pictures.

Biñas also allowed the NBI operatives to search the police station to look for the suspects but the effort proved futile.

The police chief told The Freeman that he will have them investigated. Fred P. Languido/NLQ(THE FREEMAN)