Cop relieved for "extortion"

CEBU, Philippines - A policeman assigned at the Subangdaku police station was relieved from his post due to an extortion complaint filed against him.

SPO1 Herbert Pelayo, desk officer of the Subangdaku police station was ordered relieved by Mandaue City Police Office director P S/Supt. Noel Gillamac after a complainant alleged that he took her camera while in detention at the Subangdaku police station Tuesday evening.

His immediate superior, OIC Subangdaku police station chief P/Insp. Mark Barrios, was also ordered relieved for command responsibility.

Both are currently detailed at the MCPO headquarters pending investigation.

The complainants are Candy Mendez and Clarita Reyes who are both employees of a forwarding company based in Lapu-Lapu City.

The women said they boarded a taxi from Lapu-Lapu City for barangay Subangdaku last Tuesday afternoon.

Upon reaching the place, they handed a P1,000 bill to the taxi driver but he did not have change for it.

The taxi driver took the money to a lotto outlet in barangay Tipolo to have it broken into several denominations.

After paying the driver, they got off the taxi and at this point, the lotto attendant called their attention to tell them their money was bogus.

They argued with the attendant and then two policemen came after the attendant sought help.

Soon they were detained at the police station, the two women said.

They alleged that Pelayo had suggested that they arrive at an amicable settlement although the lotto operator was already agreeable to having the fake bill replaced with a genuine one.

But the women said they were surprised when Pelayo told them that they could be released from detention only if they paid P3,000 each.

Reyes was released from detention after her daughter came with P3,000 but since Mendez did not have enough cash with her, Pelayo allegedly asked for her cellular phone.

She said she pleaded to Pelayo not to take her phone. She instead offered to leave her Sony camera.

Before they left, the women signed the blotter which indicated that the case was amicably settled.

The following day, the two women went to the ABS-CBN television station to air their complaint alleging they spent a sleepless night during the alleged ordeal at the Subangdaku police station.

They claimed Pelayo humiliated them in the presence of Barrios.

Pelayo denied all the allegations but MCPO director Ps/Supt. Noel Gillamac relieved him from his post since the allegations are serious.

His immediate superior, Barrios, was also relieved from his post for command responsibility and to prevent him from influencing the investigation.

Gillamac said he has ordered Investigative and Detective Management Bureau (IDMB) chief P C/Insp. Michael Anthony Bastes to conduct the investigation.

Gillamac said he found it irregular for Pelayo to facilitate an amicable settlement since such settlement should be decided by both complainants and the aggrieved party. (FREEMAN)