'Kotong' cop falls in entrapment

MANILA, Philippines - A policeman, who reportedly employs a minor in his extortion activities, was nabbed during an entrapment operation Thursday in Ermita, Manila.

The arrest of Police Officer 2 Orlando Antonio, detailed at the Plaza Lawton outpost of the Ermita police station, was precipitated by his extortion activities recorded on video several times by the crew of “Imbestigador” television program of GMA-7.

The complaining vendors, parking attendants and jeepney barkers alleged that Antonio had forced them to pay from P10 to P100 every day in exchange for immunity from arrest. Antonio allegedly makes his daily collection from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., while his civilian “runner,” a 14-year-old boy, does the round from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

Manila Police District director Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay tasked Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit head Chief Inspector Rolando Balasabas to conduct an entrapment operation against the suspects.

Operatives of the CIDU’s General Assignment Section led by Chief Inspector Marcelo Reyes witnessed Antonio, who was in civilian clothes but carrying a gun, receiving the marked P50 from one of the vendors in the vicinity of the Manila City hall. Antonio tried to escape on board his motorcycle when he saw the policemen closing in. He was cornered after a brief chase.

The boy was also arrested in the succeeding operation after receiving the marked P100 from a jeepney barker. During his arrest, the boy said he remits his nightly collections to Antonio.

Charges of robbery -extortion and violation of the gun ban and the anti-graft and corrupt practices act were filed against Antonio, while the boy will be remanded to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.