Manila cop in hot water

A Manila policeman is in hot water for allegedly abducting and later extorting P500,000 from a Muslim businesswoman in Quiapo, Manila last Thursday night.

Chief Inspector Leopoldo Mangilinan, chief of the District Intelligence and Investigation Division (DIID) of the Western Police District identified the suspect as Police Officer 3 Lauro Rolusta, also of the DIID.

According to initial investigation, Rolusta had been tagged as among those who kidnapped businesswoman Omaira Umpar, 40, and her son Amir, 11, at about 7 p.m. on Carlos Palanca street.

The suspects, who introduced themselves as police officers, allegedly took Omaira’s cash amounting to P92,000, a police report said. The victims were forced into a Toyota Revo van, police said.

The suspects, police said, then called the victims’ relatives and demanded P500,000 for their safe release.

Relatives of the victims later sought the help of WPD-DIID, which planned an entrapment operation.

According to police, Omaira’s daughter Nuriana was instructed to bring the P500,000 near the gate of the WPD headquarters on United Nations Avenue. She was instructed to wait for one of the suspects who would pick up the money.

At about 3 a.m. yesterday, the entrapment was set at the gate of the WPD. Police said Rolusta was immediately arrested after receiving the marked money.

The victims were later released by their abductors near the WPD headquarters, police said. During a confrontation, Rolusta was identified by the daughter as the one who told her to wait at the gate of the WPD headquarters.

Charges of kidnapping with robbery-extortion are now being readied against Rolutas. – Mike Frialde