Three cops cleared of extortion charges

CEBU, Philippines - Casting doubt on the testimonies of the witnesses presented by the prosecution, the Regional Trial Court has acquitted three policemen of the criminal case for direct bribery following their arrest three years ago in an entrapment operation by the National Bureau of Investigation.

RTC Branch 21 Judge Eric Menchavez ordered the acquittal of SPO2 Jerry Villarin, PO3 Estanislao Avenido and PO2 Godofredo Amancio because the testimonies of the witnesses were not allegedly supported by the physical evidence.

“The testimony therefore of the complainant Elizabeth Gallarde and SI Gaoiran is perjured because this was never supported by physics report,” Menchavez said in a decision.

The judge likewise ruled that there was no witness presented to support the conspiracy between the three accused policemen to commit the alleged extortion.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by Elizabeth Gallarde before the NBI in 2006 against the three accused after they allegedly tried to extort P35,000 from her for the release of her son who was arrested in Moalboal for selling illegal drugs.

An entrapment operation was conducted by the NBI operatives led by Special Investigator Florante Gaoiran outside the Palace of Justice in the Capitol grounds on May 26, 2006 which resulted to the arrest of the three policemen.

Avenido allegedly received the marked money from the complainant while Villarin and Amancio acted as lookouts. However, Menchavez said there was no witness presented by the prosecution to testify on the circumstances of the arrest of the lookouts.

According to Menchavez, the complainant alleged that it was Avenido who received the marked money but it was not allegedly supported by the physics report.

Gallarde told The FREEMAN that she was very disappointed by the court’s decision saying she had reliable information that an influential politician in Moalboal intervened in the case. — Fred P. Languido/WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS)