2 cops probed for extort of new NCRPO chief's son

MANILA, Philippines – Two Quezon City policemen are in hot water for allegedly extorting P10,000 Tuesday night from the son of Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina, who was appointed yesterday as the next director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

SPO4 Jose de la Peña and PO3 Resty del Rosario were summoned by their superiors at the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) to explain why they should not be dismissed from the service because of their misdeeds.

De la Peña and Del Rosario are both detailed at the QCPD’s Mobile Patrol Unit.

The STAR learned that Espina’s son was talking to somebody over his cell phone in front of his car parked along Santolan street when he was approached by De la Peña.

De la Peña accused Espina’s son of engaging in “phone sex” and demanded P20,000 apparently as a settlement of the case.

After several minutes of haggling, the demand was reduced to P10,000 and Espina’s son withdrew the money from his automated teller’s machine (ATM) card in a nearby bank.

After giving the money to De la Peña, Espina’s son handed over his mobile phone to the policeman and asked him to talk to his father.

When Espina identified himself, De la Peña let go of the son and drove off in a mobile car driven by Del Rosario.

The elder Espina’s aides coordinated with the QCPD. De la Peña and Del Rosario were stripped of their service firearms and subjected to an investigation prior to the filing of administrative cases against them.