Detained ‘drug pusher’ accuses Cebu City lawman of extortion

CEBU CITY — A detained alleged big-time drug pusher, who expressed his displeasure at being implicated by the police in several past robberies here, turned the tables on them the other day by telling mediamen that a policeman had time and again extorted money from him before his arrest.

Jose "Tongol" Nodalo alleged that SPO1 Fernando Velarde was one of the policemen who had demanded money from him and other drug dealers in Barangay Villagonzalo, a hotbed of drug-dealing here.

Velarde is a member of the city police’s theft and robbery section (TRS), which pursued and arrested Nodalo in Escalante, Negros Occidental last week.

Velarde denied Nodalo’s allegation and expressed willingness to face any investigation.

Nodalo told mediamen, who came to Camp Sotero Cabahug to check on his condition Monday morning, that it was wrong for a local tabloid to say that he was involved in big-time robberies in the city in the past.

Nodalo said he never confessed to TRS chief Narciso Ouano last Saturday that he was part of the robbery group reportedly led by one Ricardo Uy alias Jun Halap.

Uy, whose robbery syndicate is based in Ozamiz City, was implicated in the robbery of a Landbank branch here last year.

Nodalo stood firm on his earlier claim that he was never involved in any big-time robberies, saying that he was only a drug pusher.

He said authorities are taking the liberty of making up stories because he is detained.

When asked to elaborate, Nodalo named Velarde as one of those who allegedly collected money from drug dealers in Villagonzalo.

Nodalo’s wife Janice, who visited him the other day, supported his claim about Velarde’s alleged activities in their place. She alleged that Velarde is still collecting money from drug pushers there.

Nodalo said two other policemen usually accompanied Velarde, but that it was only Velarde whom he could identify.

Nodalo’s wife also alleged that Velarde had asked for P30,000 from her so that their "multicab" could be released from the custody of the TRS.

The TRS took custody of the vehicle when Nodalo abandoned it after a brief shootout in Lapu-Lapu City last July. Nodalo eluded arrest at that time.

Nodalo said he is willing to execute an affidavit to support his allegations against Velarde.

Nodalo, however, failed to say how much money he had already given to Velarde.

In an interview, Velarde belied the allegations, saying he would not tarnish his 17 years in the police service with such illegal activities.

Velarde said that when he and other TRS operatives went to Nodalo’s house last July, it was Janice who brought up the idea.

He believes that the joke made Janice think he was asking for money then in exchange for Nodalo’s freedom.

He said the Nodalos do not have to pay to get back their multicab if they can produce the necessary documents.

The chief of the regional police’s directorial staff, Ronald Roderos, said he will direct acting Cebu City police chief Josephus Angan to investigate the matter as soon as possible.

He said the results of the investigation will be forwarded to the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division for review before they are submitted to Chief Superintendent Rolando Garcia for approval.

Velarde, formerly assigned to the now defunct Detective Bureau of the city police, was also implicated in the alleged extortion of P1.5 million by SPO4 Roy Codinera from suspected Hong Kong triad member Giovanni "Nanan" Jimenez. — Freeman News Service