2 Taguig cops face robbery, graft charges

MANILA, Philippines — Criminal charges  were filed against a precinct commander in Taguig City for allegedly extorting P100,000 from the mother of a drug suspect in exchange for downgrading the cases against him.

Chief Inspector Paul Bryan Torres, head of the Police Community Precinct (PCP) 6 in Barangay Ususan, and his alleged cohort, Police Officer 1 Ariel Eltanal, underwent inquest proceedings before the Department of Justice on Sunday on charges of robbery and graft.

“The suspects waived their rights to undergo a preliminary investigation,” Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat Jr., director of the police Counter-Intelligence Task Force (CITF), said in a text message.

The two police officers remain in the custody of the CITF pending resolution of their case.

Torres and Eltanal were caught in an entrapment operation on Saturday night wherein they accepted marked money from complainant Rochelle Calle.

Calle told the CITF that her son was arrested by members of the PCP 6 for alleged drug pushing Saturday morning.

Torres reportedly demanded P100,000 from Calle in exchange for the downgrading of charges against her son. The demand was lowered to P59,000 after hours of negotiation.

The two police officers were unaware that Calle already sought the assistance of the CITF for a sting. – Non Alquitran