Dismissed police arrested for extortion

A former chief of the Malabon Police station anti-drugss unit, dismissed for staying AWOL in 2003, was arrested by former colleagues on charges of extortion and estafa yeterday in Malabon City.

Chief Inspector Raymundo Agustin, Station Investigation Bureau (SIB) chief, identified the suspect as Leopoldo Villoga, 57, a former Malabon cop with the rank of Inspector, and resident of Mangustan Road in Barangay Potreto. Villoga headed various operating units of the Malabon police, including the anti-drugs and special operations group before he was sacked in 2003. The suspect also has standing warrants for carnapping in 2003, for robbery and for a drugs case in Quezon City in 2004, police sources said.

Initially, four victims have surfaced at the police station to formally lodge their complaints. Agustin said more victims are expected to troop to the station in the coming days.

Villoga’s colleagues told The STAR, the former cop was highly respected and admired by his colleagues and city residents alike, until he allegedly messed with illegal drugs. A former colleague said he was a sorry loss to the police force.

SPO2 Edgardo Cristobal, PO2s Randy Santiago and Jerome Peralta, all of the SIB, arrested Villoga at around 8:15 a.m. yesterday along MacArthur Highway.

SPO2 Ferdinand Espiritu, officer-on-case, said Villoga was arrested on a complaint by Pedro Mangubat, 41, of the Philippine Coast Guard and resident of Maya-maya St., Malabon.

Records showed that at about 4 p.m. last Monday, Villoga introduced himself to Mangubat as a "Mario Austria," together with a Roberto Flores alias "Amang," and posed as legitimate personnel from the City Engineering Office. Mangubat, who was then renovating his house, told probers Villoga offered an "anti-drugs raffle ticket" worth P5,000 allegedly in exchange for a hassle-free repair of his house. The suspect assured Mangubat no one from the engineering office will bother him if he bought the ticket.

Mangubat, however, verified the claims of Villoga and found out they were plain impostors out for a quick buck. They even wrote their names (aliases) on the back of the tickets to convince their victims.

Formal charges were filed yesterday against Villoga before the city prosecutor’s office. – Jerry Botial