Ermita cops accused of extortion

Five members of the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Ermita police are now being investigated by the General Assignment Section (GAS) for alleged extortion on a vendor in Sta. Cruz.

Chief Inspector Arturo Paglinawan, GAS chief, identified the policemen as Senior Police Officer 1 Victor Inciong, Police Officer 3 Harnani Aga, Police Officer 2 Gloybel Dimacali, Police Officer 2 Emmanuel Gomez, and Police Officer 2 Rodolfo Yanguas.

Paglinawan said the investigation against the five policemen, detailed with the WPD Station 5 along United Nations Avenue, stemmed from a complaint filed by Omar Manongiring, 31, native of Lanao del Sur, of 1739 Blumentritt, Sta. Cruz, Manila last Friday.

Manongiring said the suspects extorted some P30,000 from him at about 6 p.m. on Sept. 19 at the corner of Pampanga Street and Rizal Avenue. Aside from taking his P14,000 cash, the policemen, the victim added, even took his jewelry, his scooter with license plate MC-PT-6231 worth P37,000 and his cellphone worth P2,500.

Monongiring said he was aboard his scooter and was on his way to close his stall at the Blumentritt market when the suspects aboard a blue car blocked his way.

The suspects then alighted from the vehicle and approached him with their guns drawn. Then , Inciong and Dimacali allegedly dragged him off his scooter and divested him of his cash, jewelry and watch.

After taking his valuables, the policemen then allegedly forced him inside the car and took him to their office where they accused him of drug possession in front of a certain Chief Inspector Jose Mario Espino.

Manongiring said the accused policemen then showed Espino two plastic sachets of shabu and claimed these were found on him. Manongiring said the policemen then ordered him to produce P250,000 in exchange for his release.

Manongiring added that the amount was later reduced to P100,000 and then P30,000. He added that the policemen even threatened to add illegal gun possession to his charge sheet if he will refuse to pay.

He told probers that the policemen finally allowed him to go after posting bail before an inquest fiscal last Sept. 21. After his release, however, only his jewelry was returned to him.