Tsinoy trader accuses 3 cops of extortion

MANILA, Philippines - Three Manila policemen are being accused by a Filipino-Chinese trader in Binondo of robbing him of valuables worth P56,000 and extorting P10,000 in exchange for his release after he was detained for alleged fencing.

Manila Police District director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales ordered yesterday the disarming of Senior Police Officers 2 Anthony Blanco and Jaime Acosin and SPO1 Federico Macasiray, detailed at the District Mobile Patrol Unit.

According to the complaint of Noel Sy, 30, the three policemen on board a patrol car went to his stepfather’s store Tuesday morning and accused Sy of buying stolen items.

The policemen also seized his laptop, two portable DVD players, two portable play stations and four adaptors. Sy said the policemen set him free after his stepfather, Armando Avillar, gave them P10,000.

Sy and Avillar, accompanied by Meisic police station chief Superintendent Nelson Yabut, identified the three policemen after they were summoned by Rosales.

Rosales later learned that the three policemen were earlier charged with being “15-30” cops, or those who report only on paydays, but were given a second chance to reform. 

However, the complainants desisted from filing charges after the seized items were returned to them following their confrontation with the three policemen.

Rosales said he ordered the filing of administrative charges against the three police despite the desistance of the complainants.

The three policemen refused to talk to reporters who tried to get their side of the story.        – Nestor Etolle