Cops deny extortion try

CEBU, Philippines - Police denied allegations they kidnapped a man and asked for money from his live-in partner after the man’s arrest in Barangay Bulacao, Cebu City, recently.

Angela Engreso, live-in partner of the arrested suspect Jeffrey Cabellon, 36, reported to the Talisay Police Station that personnel of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Cebu City Police Office were nowhere to be found at the IDMB detention cell.

Engreso further told Talisay Police that the IDMB operatives, under the supervision of Chief Insp. Alexis Relado, detained Cabellon because they were not able to produce the P70,000 that the police allegedly demanded.

Relado, in an interview, denied the accusations.

“I strongly refute the allegation. How come na gipangayoan sila og kwarta na tulo man ang kaso sa suspek unya ang korte recommended no bail bond for his cases,” said Relado, who added he was surprised of the allegations.

The IDMB chief narrated that his operatives arrested Cabellon last February 8 while they were conducting an operation against all forms of illegal activities in Sitio Villa Bulsita, Barangay Bulacao.

The police chanced upon Cabellon, a resident of Bulacao, Talisay City, and caught him in the act of possessing a snub nosed .38 cal. revolver with two live rounds.

Relado said his men also recovered a pink container from Cabellon that contained thirteen packs of suspected shabu all estimated at P50,000.

The IDMB chief said they detained Cabellon at the Parian Police Station, the nearest and “safest” police station from their office, because their detention cell at the IDMB was filled with detainees that day.

“I suggest they try to go over sa logbook sa Cebu City Public Safety Company and see na pag-February 8 sa gabii, puno ang detention cell nato diri,” said Relado.

Relado urged the family of the suspect to file a case against the police instead of hurling “serious accusations” against them.

Cebu City Police Office head Mariano Natuel Jr. tasked the City Intelligence Branch to investigate the matter.

As Relado requested, the six policemen reportedly involved in the alleged extortion were temporarily relieved to the CCPSC effective yesterday pending the investigation.

“Temporary lang ang pagka-relieve nila, just to erase doubts while the investigation is ongoing. If ma-clear ang ilang name, then ibalik ra sad sila sa IDMB,” said Natuel.  –(FREEMAN)