Fake cops rob Indian moneylender

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested two fake policemen who allegedly robbed an Indian businessman of P400 in Quezon City.

Suspects Jesus Angelo Peralta and Arnel Camarines, who are former police assets, are facing charges of usurpation of authority.

Superintendent Marcelino Pedrozo Jr., Quezon City police Station 3 commander, said Peralta showed them an ID from the Philippine National Police-Special Operations Group in Region 4 issued in 2007, while Camarines presented an ID from the Quezon City police Intelligence Division issued in 2006.

“They showed us IDs issued to them when they were civilian agents or assets a few years ago,” he said.

Pedrozo said they also recovered from the two suspects the Indian national’s list of clients and collections worth P400 from his lending business.

At around 11 a.m. on Saturday, Ouezon City policemen on patrol spotted the two suspects accosting Indian national Dalbir Singh along Quirino Highway near corner Mendez Road in Barangay Baesa.

When approached, the two men, who were in plain clothes said they were policemen and that Singh’s motorcycle had almost sideswiped them on the sidewalk.

Pedrozo said Peralta and Camarines could not explain why Singh’s money and list of creditors were in their possession.

Singh did not want to press charges of robbery against the suspects, he added.

Pedrozo said a number of Indian businessmen have been robbed by criminals posing as policemen. Police are trying to trace the victims, he added. – Reinir Padua