2 bribe-givers nabbed by cops

This time, the bribe-givers are not getting away.

Honest agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) foiled an attempt by a Singaporean, earlier arrested for large-scale estafa, to bribe his way to freedom.

In Quezon City, a security guard was arrested by the police for trying to bribe policemen with P5,000 in an attempt to `bail-out' his colleague earlier nabbed for illegal possession of firearms in Project 4.

CIDG director Chief Superintendent Lucas Managuelod said that a certain Jessica Corpuz went to the CIDG's 1602nd Manila field office last Monday afternoon to visit detained suspect Eng Chai Tan.

Shortly after the visit, Corpuz, reportedly a close friend of Tan, approached CIDG agent Inspector Eduardo Kempis and allegedly offered him P30,000 for the release of her friend. But instead of accepting the tempting offer, Kempis promptly ordered the arrest of Corpuz for bribery.

For his part, Managuelod commended Kempis' honesty and show of integrity. "This only proves that not all policemen can be easily corrupted," he said.

Tan was nabbed by CIDG agents last Saturday in Quezon City for 20 cases of estafa filed against him. Agents of the Bureau of Immigration had previously arrested Tan for being an undocumented and overstaying alien.

In Quezon City, security guard Arnulfo Benitez, 30, joined his colleague Maribert Martin at the detention cell after he (Benitez) tried to bribe station investigation head, SPO4 Willy Quilang last Wednesday morning.

Quilang said Benitez arrived at the police station at around 11:30 a.m. while Martin was being investigated for failure to present documents for his shotgun. "He went immediately to the investigation room and plunked down the money along with a photocopy of the shotgun's papers," Quilang said.

Police nabbed Martin last Tuesday after security personnel of the Mercury Drug main office in Barangay Libis informed them of the presence of a suspicious looking man, who later turned out to be Martin.

Martin was apparently one of the guards who escorted a van of the Aboitiz Company, which delivered medicines ordered by Mercury Drug.

Martin entered the compound in civilian clothes carrying the shotgun, prompting security guards to arrest him. He failed to show any identification when arrested.

Project 4 station commander Superintendent Efren Lagmay recommended the filing of charges against Benitez. The Quezon City Prosecutors' Office recommended P12,000 bail for his temporary liberty. Martin was likewise charged for illegal possession of firearms.