Trader, Japanese complain of extortion by Manila cops

MANILA, Philippines - A Muslim trader complained yesterday he is a victim of extortion by police officers from the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 5 after he saw two of the policemen on television arrested for robbing two Koreans.

The trader did not give his name but said Police Officer 1 Paul Medina and PO2 Reynaldo Olivo flagged him down as he was driving his motorcycle and took P150,000 from him three weeks ago.

In a related development, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has ordered an investigation into allegations by Japanese tourist Yukiya Haga, 40, went to the city hall to complain that he was framed for rape by a woman he met on Facebook last March. Haga was accompanied by his lawyer, Josue Zanaba, and vice consul Yoshikazu Narisawa.

Haga said he was arrested and brought to the MPD Station 5 by Medina and PO1 Ronald Flores. He said nine other policemen demanded that he produce P1 million or he would be charged with rape of a minor. His lawyer, produced affidavits that the name supplied by the complainant belonged to another person.

Medina and Olivo were earlier identified by Koreans Back Sung Kyun and Lee Jun Hee as the ones who robbed them of at least P20,000 while they were in the Malate Church before dawn last April 7. They are currently out on bail on robbery charges.

MPD director Chief Superintendent Alejandro Gutierrez relieved Superintendent Jemar Modequillo as Station 5 commander Saturday, and ordered all Manila police officers “not to initiate first contact with any foreigner or tourists.”

Gutierrez said the current policy is for “all Manila policemen to avoid initiating first contact with any foreigner unless they make the first contact by asking assistance or directions.”

Foreigners “can only be accosted if and when they are caught in the act… This policy was already conveyed to embassy officials of Japan and Korea and the Department of Tourism,” he said.