4 cops nabbed for extort not from SAF

The director of the Special Action Force (SAF) clarified yesterday that the four policemen arrested for extorting P400,000 from a businessman in Antipolo City are no longer connected with his command.

Chief Superintendent Marcelino Franco said PO3 Simeon Salazar, PO2 Eulogio Catallo, and PO1s Ray Apuya and Enrique Assaud, were transferred to other assignments last July 15.

Antipolo City policemen arrested the four and retired Inspector Jesus de Guzman, all assigned to the Anti-Optical Media Piracy Task Force, last Monday after receiving P320,000 in marked money from complainant Felix Sotto Jr.

The four policemen arrested Sotto last Nov. 25 during a raid on his house, which yielded fake labels for VCDs and DVDs.

However, instead of bringing Sotto to their office, the group allegedly demanded P400,000 from Sotto, who, in turn, gave them an initial P80,000.

The group took Sotto’s Toyota Revo to make sure that he would pay the balance.

Last Tuesday, Superintendent Primitivo Tabujara, Antipolo City police chief, filed charges of robbery-extortion, grave threats, illegal detention and car theft against the four policemen and De Guzman with the city prosecutor’s office.

Franco said a thorough check showed that the four former SAF personnel are now detailed in the holding center of the Philippine National Police at Camp Crame. — Non Alquitran