The complainant, Arnelio Machado, of Barangay Cuyab, San Pedro, Laguna, alleged that SPO2 Marcelino Male, SPO1 Roberto Monzon, PO2 Luisito Aninias and PO2 Ronald Digman snatched and brought him to a safehouse and later demanded P1 million for his release.
Not having the money, Machado claimed he was forced to pose as a buyer of shabu.
Machado’s lawyer filed a petition for review of the case with the Justice Secretary’s office on Aug. 23, 2005, but the PDEA later filed a motion for reconsideration, which the Department of Justice denied on Dec. 6, 2005.
A senior superintendent of the PDEA allegedly bragged that he could ask Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita to overturn the DOJ decision.
A high-ranking DOJ official, however, said there have been numerous cases where PDEA agents extorted money from individuals by planting evidence and demanding a huge sum in exchange for their release from PDEA custody.
"Machado’s case is not the first case ever filed in the DOJ against PDEA (agents) and I am sure it will not be the last," the official said.