For alleged harassment: Extortion victim raps more city policemen

The complainants against a Cebu City policeman earlier arrested for extortion again sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation after some of his companions assigned to the city police Security Service Group allegedly harassed them for filing a complaint against their colleague.

Charito Escobido yesterday filed another complaint against a group of policemen allegedly led by SPO4 George Aniñon for repeatedly harassing them.

Escobido, the mother of suspected drug pusher Ariel, said that since February 1 until last Monday, Aniñon and some unidentified policemen went to their house in barangay Pasil and confronted them for reporting to the NBI and asked them to withdraw their complaint against PO2 Jaime dela Cruz.

The NBI earlier arrested Dela Cruz in the act of receiving money from Ariel, 37, whom he arrested along with a minor in Pasil last week on drug charges. Dela Cruz, a former bodyguard of Vice Mayor Michael Rama, allegedly demanded P40,000 from Ariel to settle his case.

Instead of paying the amount, Ariel's wife Corazon and his mother went to the NBI and set up an entrapment operation, which led to the arrest of Dela Cruz.

Dela Cruz is now facing six charges at the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas; extortion, graft and corruption, arbitrary detention, child abuse, use of dangerous drugs and grave misconduct. - Fred P. Languido