4 Marikina cops nabbed for extortion

Four Marikina City policemen have been arrested by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for allegedly extorting P10,000 from a fellow officer’s wife, whom they collared for drug pushing.

Suspects PO2 Pepito Valdez PO2 Diones Salcedo, PO1 Virgilio Calanoga Jr. and PO1 Pedro Avelino, all of the Police Community Precinct 6 in Barangay Concepcion Uno were arrested after receiving marked money from complainant Salima Lee in nearby Sitio Tumana at about 11 p.m. last Tuesday.

Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, head of the arresting CIDG team, said Avelino Jr. tested positive for ultra-violet powder at the Philippine National Police (PNP) crime laboratory service.

The arrest of the four Marikina cops has brought to 36 the number of rogue cops hauled to jail since Metro Manila police chief Director Ricardo de Leon launched his anti-kotong campaign last December.

De Leon ordered Chief Superintendent Oscar Valenzuela, director of the Eastern Police District (EPD), to initiate summary dismissal proceeding against the four cops.

"I have asked Gen. Valenzuela to speed up the pre-charge hearing against the suspects prior to their dismissal from the police service," said De Leon in an interview. "There will be no let-up in our campaign against kotong cops."

In his report to Valenzuela, Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr. said the four earlier arrested Lee on drug charges.

The woman is the wife of PO2 Gary Lee, who has been listed AWOL (absent without leave). He was charged for firing his gun indiscriminately last New Year’s Day.

Rojas said the woman was set free by the four cops after she initially shelled out P10,000 with a promise to pay an additional amount in a few hours.

Unknown to the four cops, the woman filed a complaint against them with the CIDG. Gaerlan coordinated with Rojas to have the four arrested.

The suspects did not resist arrest when combined CIDG and Marikina police operatives nabbed them. They were also disarmed of their service firearms.

De Leon said he will not condone any wrongdoing or abuse by his men, especially those involved in extortion in the guise of conducting anti-drug operations.

The Metro police chief said Avelino tested positive for illegal drug use during a drug testing drive by the NCRPO last year.

For his part, Rojas said he will institute separate administrative charges against the four policemen, who are currently detained at the CIDG detention center in Camp Crame.