Cops extorted P10 M from slain shooter?

MANILA, Philippines - Barely a month before he was killed in an ambush, Philippine practical shooting team member Michael Lontoc reportedly handed out P10 million to a policeman to prevent an expose of his alleged “illegal activities,” according to findings by Northern Police District investigators.

Investigators are set to summon the policeman to shed light on Lontoc’s slay in Malabon City last Sept. 25.

“We wanted to grill him (policeman) with regards to the alleged illegal activities of Lontoc which might help us get to the bottom of this case,” said an investigator, who refused to reveal the identity of the policeman until he is summoned to appear before the Special Investigation Task Group Lontoc.

Sources said the policeman was assigned to a special unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame and is currently in a detached service to a government agency.

Earlier, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Alan Purisima said they are investigating reports that Lontoc “shortchanged” a gun smuggling syndicate of the proceeds of high-powered firearms he sold.

Purisima said he had not heard as yet of the P10 million Lontoc gave to a policeman in their investigation of the shooter’s killing.

The STAR’s source claimed the policeman approached Lontoc last August, informing him that his superiors in Camp Crame got wind of his alleged illegal activities. The policeman offered to intercede with his superiors and arranged a meeting. Four persons the policeman described as his superiors met with Lontoc, said a source quoting a person privy to the transaction.

Lontoc left the meeting and after almost two hours came back and handed over the P10 million to the policeman and his “superiors.”

Witnesses told police investigators that the policeman was with Lontoc during the shooting competition hosted by Malabon Vice Mayor Lenlen Oreta at the family shooting range in Barangay Maysilo last Sept. 25.

When Lontoc was set to leave the firing range, the witnesses claimed the policeman pleaded to other shooters to stay behind and watch him finish his last stage in the firing range.

The police investigator said the policeman was several vehicles away from Lontoc when the four gunmen opened fire at him.

“He did not lift a finger to intervene in the occurrence of an ongoing crime,” said the source, adding that the policeman did not show up at shooting competitions for the past two weeks.