Police colonel caught taking extort money

A police lieutenant colonel was caught Wednesday in the act of extorting P10,000 from a businesswoman to whom he promised a favorable decision on an administrative case she had filed against four policemen.

Acting Metro Manila police director Chief Superintendent Rowland Albano immediately ordered summary dismissal proceedings against Superintendent Jesse Balanay, 51, of 25 Kamias St., Pembo, Fort Bonifacio, Makati City.

Balanay, of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Committee (RIIC) allegedly tried to escape on board his car upon sensing the entrapment operation against him.

But alert operatives from the Counter Intelligence and Special Unit (CISU) under Chief Inspector Arnold Aguilar, blocked his way and arrested him along East Avenue, Pinyahan Road, Quezon City at about 2:15 p.m. Wednesday.

"We have enough evidence to pin him (Balanay) down for robbery-extortion," said Albano in an interview. "It’s now up to the courts to decide his fate."

Aguilar said businesswoman Brenda Ortiz, 40, approached him Tuesday complaining that Balanay, who was the hearing officer of the administrative case she had filed against a certain SPO1 Castrillo and three other policemen, was demanding P10,000 and a Nokia 6210 cellphone in exchange for a decision in her favor.

Albano said Balanay was hearing a case at the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) headquarters at EIIB building, NIA Road, Quezon City Tuesday afternoon when he excused himself after receiving a call from Ortiz.

Instead of using his personal driver, Balanay personally drove his car with plate number TAM 219 to a nearby gasoline station and stopped in front of Ortiz. Unknown to Balanay, CISU operatives and a TV crew stood waiting for him.

While still behind the steering wheel, Balanay signaled Ortiz to board his car several times. The two were monitored engaging in a conversation until Ortiz handed over the money to Balanay who gave the pre-arranged signal. Sensing the entrapment operation, Balanay drove off but was cornered by CISU operatives. Recovered inside Balanay’s car was the P10,000 marked money.

Balanay vehemently denied the charges against him. He claimed that examinations conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) found him negative of ultra-violet powder, meaning he had not touched the marked money.

Albano ordered Balanay restricted to the NCRPO headquarters to prevent him from harassing Ortiz. He was also relieved as hearing officer of the administrative case filed by Ortiz against Castrillo.

Albano said Balanay was slapped with robbery and extortion charges yesterday in the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.