Manila policemen nabbed for extortion

Manila Police District (MPD) director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales yesterday ordered the arrest  for alleged extortion of the chief of the anti-illegal drugs unit of the Sampaloc police station and three other policemen.

“I will never condone the illegal activities of my men. This breed of policemen only destroys the good image we want to project for the Manila’s Finest. They should not stay long in the service,” a visibly irked Rosales told The STAR.

Chief Inspector Resty Nicandro who heads the station anti-illegal drugs (SAID) unit of the Sampaloc police station and six of his police operatives allegedly conspired and extorted P40,000 from two women who were reportedly arrested for drug possession.

However, the complainants only identified in a police lineup Senior Police Officer 1 Maurito Reneido, PO2 Christopher Pantaleon and PO1 Victorino Salao. The three other policemen were not identified.

Investigators said that Jesusa Manalansang, 28, and Jennifer Capuso, 23, were arrested by SAID operatives while on board a motorcycle last Monday night for an unspecified offense.

At the SAID office, Pantaleon reportedly took the women’s P700 cash, while Reneido divested them of their jewelry. It was at this juncture when Nicandro arrived and inspected the wallet of Manalansang and allegedly discovered a sachet of shabu inside.

Manalansang claimed that Nicandro also sexually assaulted her.

The two women were also threatened by Nicandro that charges of possession of illegal drugs will be filed against them if they fail to pay P120,000 to the policemen. The amount was later reduced to P40,000.

Probers said it was Salao who reportedly received the money from the mother of Manalansang and turned it over to Nicandro.

The complainants alleged that despite giving P40,000, the cops impounded their motorcycle.

It was Rosales who ordered Sampaloc police station chief Superintendent Ernesto Barlam to return the black Honda Wave motorcycle with license plates NF-7803 to the owners.

Barlam said he would recommend administrative charges against the SAID operatives involved in the alleged robbery-extortion.

Records obtained by The STAR showed that Nicandro has a pending administrative case arising from alleged theft of P12,000 worth of copper from a junk shop owner.

Rosales also ordered a review of all pending cases of Nicandro who is reportedly involved in several cases of robbery extortion.

Charges of robbery extortion, qualified bribery and planting of evidence were filed against Nicandro and his men who are now detained at the MPD jail.