Cop charged for suspect's release faces extortion raps

MANILA, Philippines - A police officer earlier charged for the anomalous release of an arrested estafa suspect is being investigated for robbery extortion, according to documents of the Manila Police District (MPD).

Police Officer 3 Frederick Pastor has been summoned by MPD General Assignment Section (GAS) chief Senior Inspector Ramon Villa Ignacio Meneses to answer the complaint of jeepney driver Ariel Echalar, 44, of Tondo, Manila.

In his memorandum to the chief of the MPD Traffic Enforcement Unit, where Pastor is assigned, Meneses ordered the police officer to appear today in complete uniform without firearms before SPO1 John Cayetano to answer the charges.

 According to the memorandum, Echalar filed a complaint against Pastor based on an incident that happened Saturday morning at the corner of Tayuman and Avenida streets.

A GAS investigator, who requested anonymity, told The STAR that Pastor allegedly extorted money from Echalar, and when the latter did not give in the police officer took his license.

It was not clear whether Echalar’s driver’s license was returned to him but he filed a complaint, supposedly in preparation for criminal and administrative cases he is about to lodge.

Meneses said Pastor’s failure to appear will be construed as a waiver, which will mean that the GAS will file criminal and administrative case against him.

Pastor, along with PO3 Jessie Villanueva of the MPD Police Station 1 and Barangay 253 Zone 23 chairman Joel Amores, were tagged by a Chinese businessman as the persons who arrested and released a certain Ernesto Cortez, who is the subject of an arrest warrant for issuing a bouncing check.

Juanito Tan, 66, said he sought the assistance of Villanueva after spotting Cortez along Abad Santos street last July 23. Villanueva called Pastor and the three of them proceeded to arrest the suspect.

While the arrest was in progress, Amores reportedly arrived and they talked to the suspect while Tan was inside a tricycle. Tan said they went to the MPD headquarters along UN Avenue to book Corteza at the warrant section and he was left outside.

After 15 minutes, he said the two police officers and Amores came and urged him not to pursue his case against Cortez because the suspect would reportedly pay him what was owed him. He said he denied the request and vowed to pursue the case.

The following day, Tan went to the MPD warrant section to check on Cortez but he was surprised to find that the suspect had not been booked and was released by Villanueva and his alleged accomplices.

Tan filed charges of infidelity in the custody of a prisoner against Pastor, Villanueva and Amores on July 26.