4 cops ordered arrested for extortion

A Manila City court issued a warrant of arrest against four local policemen after they were found guilty of extorting P100,000 from a general manager of a security agency and for planting a sachet of shabu in her belongings five years ago in Binondo.

Judge Silvino Pampilo Jr. of Branch 26 of the Manila City Regional Trial Court (MCRTC) said the four policemen were convicted in absentia.

Police Officers 1 Ferdinand Cajipe, Arnold Malay, Rolando Ladres, and Fernand Lagando were found guilty of committing the crime of robbery-extortion and were sentenced to serve a jail term of two years to eight years.

The four accused who were assigned at Station 11 of the Manila Police District (MPD) in Meisic when the crime was committed were also ordered to pay their victim, Myrna Germedia, the P100,000 they took from her, plus P20,000 for lawyers’ fees.

The policemen were absent in yesterday morning’s scheduled promulgation at Branch 26 located on the fourth floor of the Manila City Hall.

Pampilo said the court was informed that they would not be able to attend the promulgation since they were at a police operation and they would be represented by their lawyer.

But a check with the police stations showed that Cajipe was on emergency leave, Lagando is now with Police Station 10, Malay is with the night shift at Station 2, while Ladres is with Station 4 in Sampaloc, Manila.

Despite an extortion case pending against them, they have been reportedly promoted to PO2 and PO3.