7 Manila cops seek Lim’s help

Seven police officers are asking Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim to help them fight the charges filed against them by two alleged “kotong” or extortionist police officers they arrested in an entrapment operation last July 12.

The seven lawmen all belong to the General Assignment Section of the Manila Police District, which is responsible for investigating cases filed against Manila police officers.

“For following a lawful order, we are now facing criminal and administrative charges,” the seven policemen said, hoping that Lim will come to their rescue.

Alleged erring police officers SPO1 Raymundo Molina and PO2 Webster Coronan – formerly assigned at the Malate police station – charged Senior Police Officer 4 Fernando Cantillas, SPO3 Rogelio Carbonnel, POs3 Dante Bautista, Jerry Campo, Carlos Garcia and Madora Zagala and PO2 Theodore Rivera with unlawful arrest and arbitrary detention.

Former GAS chief Superintendent Hospicio Guevarra was included in the charge sheet but was eventually dropped when he retired from the service last month.

The Manila mayor ordered the MPD-GAS to organize an operation to trap Molina and Caronan after Leo Zambarrano filed a complaint against them. Zambarrano told Lim that Molina and Caronan demanded P10,000 from him so they would drop drug charges against him.

Zambarrano alleged that the two police officers planted evidence on him.

The seven MPD-GAS police officers arrested Molina and Caronan last July 12 at the Malate police station. The entrapment and arrest was video­taped by ABS-CBN reporter Andrew Rollon and witnessed by Zambarrano’s friends, Dennis Cabuso and Atom Araullo.

Molina and Caronan were presented to Lim during a press conference at the Manila City Hall following their arrest. 

According to Cantillas, the MPD-GAS police officers’ spokesman, the robbery-extortion complaint was supported by video footages and sworn statements of the witnesses and the victim.

An inquest fiscal approved the charges as filed and recommended P100,000 bail each for Molina and Caronan. “This only proved that their arrest was valid and legal pursuant to existing laws,” Cantillas said.

Molina and Caronan are out on bail and currently assigned as sentries at the MPD gates.

The seven policemen lamented their current predicament, saying they are now facing charges for following a lawful order. “Damned if you do and damned if you don’t,” Cantillas said.

They said that aside from problems paying for their legal counsel, the frequent hearings of the case prevent them from doing their jobs. – Nestor Etolle