MPD chief assures students of protection vs ‘hoodlums in uniform’

Manila Police District (MPD) director Senior Superintendent Danilo Abarzosa yesterday assured students and parents of protection and security against "hoodlums in uniform" following the alleged extortion activities of five operatives of the Intramuros police community precinct in Ermita, Manila.

The cops allegedly extorted P25,000 from the parents of five graduating high school students whom they reportedy caught smoking marijuana in Intramuros last Saturday. The alleged extortion activities of the cops have brought anxiety among the student population in several schools in Intramuros, fearing they might be arrested and booked with trumped up charges in exchange for payoff.

Abarzosa immediately ordered an in-depth investigation into the incident, while at the same time calling on parents and students concerned to come forward and identify the extort cops.

"We can not conduct a full-blown investigation unless the complainants come out in the open. I give them my word, they will be accorded full security and assistance," Abarzosa said.

The leadership does not tolerate any wrongdoing of the policemen, he added.

According to five male students aged 14 and 15, they were arrested by five men wearing civilian clothes who introduced themselves as policemen while smoking marijuana inside a vacant lot in Intramuros. The students, who are all graduating this March, requested that they remain anonymous for the meantime. The boys said they were taken to the Intramuros police community precinct where they were threatened to be jailed and charged with violation of the dangerous drugs law unless they each come up with P15,000. The boys were told by the police to call up their parents. The cops also threatened the parents that their children may not graduate this year if charges will be filed against the students.

After a series of haggling, the boys were released with no charges filed after their parents reportedly paid the cops P5,000 each or a total of P25,000. – Nestor Etolle