TV host accuses cops of extortion

MANILA, Philippines - TV personality Arnel Ignacio accused three policemen of the Highway Patrol Group of extorting P50,000 from him last week.

Ignacio said suspects, PO3 Jose Levy Llagas, PO3 Neil Pono and PO1 Joel Lasala – all assigned at the HPG-National Capital Region – threatened to impound his 1997 Porsche 996 on allegation that his vehicle was smuggled.

“I was treated like a criminal. I was so helpless. I intend to file all the possible complaints against them,” Ignacio told reporters yesterday afternoon.

Ignacio positively identified the three policemen at the HPG headquarters in the presence of HPG director Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina, his deputy Senior Superintendent Danilo Alcuriza and HPG spokesman Superintendent Edwin Butacan. Ignacio said the incident took place at the corner of C-5 and Julia Vargas Avenues in Pasig City last March 26 at around 7:20 p.m. when the three policemen on board HPG Mobile 875 flagged him down. He was with a friend Lulu Paraoan at that time. He noted the policemen told him that his vehicle was smuggled and that the offense carried P100,000 fine.

“I explained to them that I acquired my car through bank financing. They even checked the records of my car with Stradcom and the information confirmed that the vehicle was registered under my name,” Ignacio noted.

According to Ignacio, Pono insisted of demanding P100,000 from him, thus he decided to go to his house and get the money. He said he smelled liquor in Pono’s breath. “Pono took over the steering wheel and drove the car to my house. Paraoan was asked to ride with the policemen,” he added.

Upon arrival at their house, Ignacio said he haggled and only gave P50,000. One of the policemen even counted the money before leaving his house.

Espina said the incident reached his office only yesterday and he immediately checked the matter.

“They reportedly mulcted a considerable sum of money. I have ordered the disarming of three policemen. I ordered their immediate relief from NCR-HPG to our administrative holding center,” said Espina. He also ordered policemen’s restriction to quarters and filing of the necessary cases for grave misconduct and criminal charges for robbery and extortion.

Espina noted that the suspects will be accorded the necessary defense due process on their cases on all complaints against them.

“With the help of Mr. Arnel Ignacio, we will able to flush out all the bad elements of the police force,” Espina added. “We will never tolerate these kinds of errant behavior, grave misconduct and misdeeds by our people. Following the pretext public service is public trust. If you do that service you breach that trust.”

Ignacio also asked Espina to check on Paraoan, whom the TV personality suspected to be in cahoots with the policemen. Ignacio said Paraoan even dissuaded him from pursing the case against the policemen.