MPD cops face raps over ’cracker seizure

Three businessmen recently filed charges of robbery-extortion against four Manila Police District (MPD) police officers before the Office of the Ombudsman, claiming the lawmen forcibly took the firecrackers they had just purchased.

Isagani Poso, Ricky Infante and Alfredo Sagulao charged Senior Inspector Johnny Gaspar, SPO1 Jerry Garcia, SPO1 Geraldo Rivera, PO1 Paul Bermudez, and a still unidentified person – all assigned at the Tayuman Police Community Precinct Station 7 – with robbery extortion, direct bribery and violating the anti-graft law before the Office of the Ombudsman last Dec. 27.

The complainants said they purchased P26,000 worth of firecrackers from Bulacan, which they were supposed to sell in Divisoria. However, the police officers stopped them as they were on their way home.

The lawmen reportedly opened the boxes, which had been sealed with adhesive tape. Upon seeing the contents of the boxes, the complainants said the policemen confiscated the firecrackers and detained them at the police station from 7 p.m. of Dec. 3 until 2 a.m. the next day.

The policemen reportedly demanded that they pay P30,000 if they want to be released.

The complainants said Rivera and the unidentified policeman witnessed Poso’s wife, Rowena, give the money to Bermudez in the police precinct.

Before they were allowed to leave, Poso said he was forced to sign a blank piece of paper. The policemen also reportedly took three boxes of firecrackers, the complainants said, adding that the lawmen warned them that they would be hurt or their business harmed if they tell anyone of the incident.