3 Koreans sue 18 cops for shakedown

MANILA, Philippines - Three Koreans – two men and a woman – filed charges against 18 police officers before the Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday for allegedly extorting P.5 million from them and three others last July 12.

Young Suk Lee, 22; Sang Don Lee, 32, and Jung Hun Yang, 29, claimed they and their three friends were terrified when the police officers brought them to the Regional Police Intelligence and Operating Unit (RPIOU) headquarters at Camp Bagong Diwa and detained them until their friends came up with the money for their release.

In their affidavit, the complainants said they were able to identify the police officers who raided the house they had been renting in Ayala Alabang Village, Muntinlupa City after officials of the National Capital Region Police Office showed them the personal data sheets of those assigned at the NCRPO.

They claimed Senior Police Officer 1 Jose Bernardino Jr. was not one of the raiders but they saw him and the raiding team’s leader, Chief Inspector Redentor Agcio, together while the negotiation for their “ransom” was ongoing.

The Koreans also charged Inspector Russelito Sabado; SPO4s Romeo Domondon and Danilo Fame; SPO1s Robert Vecida, Alejandro Sanchez, Robert Olave, Nestor Padilla, Guillermo Duedor, and Romencio Loverez; PO3s Rodencio Cruz, Benjie de Villa, Fielden Repollo, Esperanza Rioja and Brando Bautista; PO2 James Lagasca and PO1 Rubelyn Opelac.

Stolen

The Koreans said the police officers arrived at their house on Country Club Drive at around 10:30 p.m. and accused them of engaging in cybercrimes.

They said they trade in stocks online, but the police officers pushed through with the raid and confiscated six laptops, nine Internet phones, desktop computers and accessories.

The complainants also accused the police officers of stealing P739,000 worth of belongings from them that are not related to their business: two LCD television sets, jewelry, designer bags, high-end apparel, and personal gadgets and accessories.

They said they were not issued receipts for all the items taken from them. 

Wired

The Koreans accused Vecida of demanding P3 million in exchange for their release from the RPIOU headquarters. This was lowered until both sides agreed to P1.5 million, they said.

The complainants said Vecida told them someone interceded in their behalf and the “ransom” was reduced to P500,000. They said that on July 13, Cruz accompanied them to Maxim’s Hotel in Pasay City, where their friends from Korea wired the money, which was placed in a black backpack.

Cruz turned the money over to Vecida, they said.

Jung said the police officers took his ATM card and those of his friends. He later learned that P38,000 was withdrawn from his account while he was detained.

He said he does not know how much money his friends lost because the three who did not file charges went home to Korea after their release. They were asked to sign a logbook stating that nothing was taken from them while in captivity, he said.

On July 15, the Koreans appeared before Chief Superintendent Pat Hernandez, NCRPO’s deputy for administration, who showed them the data sheets of the RPIOU personnel.