Lim orders investigation of police extortion

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has ordered an investigation on allegations made by Tondo residents claiming that a ranking official from the Manila Police District has been using his position to fabricate charges for extortion.

In giving the order to Senior Superintendent Alex Gutierrez, chief of the district directorial staff, Lim issued a warning to all Manila policemen not to use their authority and uniform to oppress innocent civilians.

Lim stressed that he will not allow such things to happen in Manila for as long as he is the mayor.

Lim’s pronouncements were made as he faced at City Hall, residents of Dagupan Extension in Tondo who accused PO3 Jason Magbitang, reportedly of the anti-illegal drugs unit of the MPD Station 7, of arresting individuals at whim and then extorting money from them in exchange for not being charged either with drug use or possession.

In the presence of Gutierrez, station commander Superintendent Romeo Sedanto and secretary to the mayor lawyer Rafaelito Garayblas, Lim heard the complaints of the residents but got particularly irked when Sedanto badgered one of the residents about the injury he sustained in the neck when they (residents) pelted the cops with stones.

Magbitang reported to Sedanto that they were trying to arrest one Ricardo Soller for drug charges but were prevented by barangay councilman Bong Cabrera and the residents. However, Soller, Cabrera and the residents alleged that over the weekend, Magbitang and his men, clad in plainclothes, tried to arrest Soller for unknown reasons, without any evidence and without a warrant of arrest.

The relatives and neighbors then sought the help of Cabrera who responded to the scene and tried to pacify the angry residents. The residents also told the mayor that they merely got full to the brim since many of them have been victimized by Magbitang.

Soller told the mayor that in October last year, Magbitang already arrested him for alleged drug use and extorted P70,000 from him in exchange for his release without charges.  The money, he said, was handed over to two policemen right inside Station 7. 

Sedanto, for his part, said Magbitang was already there when he took the past as commander of the said station.

Lim said the residents were right in questioning Magbitang since based on standard operating procedures, a policeman is supposed to first introduce himself, present the arrest warrant and then appraise the suspect on the nature of charges against him before having him arrested.

He also said Cabrera did not obstruct justice and merely did his duty of responding to calls for help from residents within his area of jurisdiction.