People's Law Enforcement Board suspends 5 cops for illegal arrest, P1-million extort try

MANILA, Philippines - The People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) has suspended a ranking police official of the Manila Police District (MPD) and four others for illegally arresting an executive of the Public Estate Authority Tollway Corp. (PEATC) in 2007 and for trying to extort P1 million from the victim in exchange for his release.

In a 24-page decision dated March 11, PLEB executive director Romeo Cairme ordered the suspension for 90 days of Senior Inspector Baltazar Beran, who is detailed at the Bureau of Immigration, for extortion. Beran’s accomplices, SPO4 Rosendo Tolentino and POs2 Zal Mondenedo, Noel Baldonado and Wilfredo Valdez were suspended for 60 days. Tolentino is now assigned in Camp Crame.

Records showed the policemen’s suspension stemmed from a complaint by PEATC director Arnel Sanciego, who was reportedly arrested by the suspects on Feb. 6, 2007 at the Seafood Wharf restaurant in Rizal Park allegedly for gunrunning and illegal possession of firearms.

The suspects, who were then assigned at the MPD’s District Police Intelligence Unit, allegedly tried to extort P1 million from Sanciego in exchange for his release. However, Sanciego refused to shell out the money, insisting that he has complete documents for the gun found in his possession.

Beran then filed charges of gunrunning and illegal possession of firearm against Sanciego, but the court dismissed the case for lack of merit.

This prompted Sanciego to file a complaint of extortion against the policemen before the PLEB, which subsequently ruled in his favor.

Sanciego also called on Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa and MPD director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales to remove the five policemen from service to serve as a warning to others to stop their “hulidap” or illegal arrest and extortion activities.

The PEATC director also asked Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan to remove Beran from his present post.