4 cops held for extortion

MANILA, Philippines — Four policemen from the Manila Police District (MPD) were arrested on Friday for allegedly extorting money from an Egyptian man.

Senior Police Officer 3 Ranny Dionisio, Police Officer 3 Ricard Bernal and Police Officers 1 Elequiel Jeric Fernandez and Arjay Lasap, all members of the MPD Station 9’s intelligence section, were arrested by operatives of the police Counter-Intelligence Task Force (CITF) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in a sting at a convenience store along Quirino Avenue at around 6:15 p.m.

CITF spokesman Chief Inspector Jewel Nicanor said the Egyptian claimed the suspects and at least six other policemen arrested him on April 9, allegedly on drug-related charges and demanded P200,000 money so he would not be charged.

The victim convinced the policemen to lower the price at P50,000, unaware the Egyptian’s family already coordinated with the police.

A follow-up operation is ongoing to determine the identities of the other policemen who are involved.