Cop nabbed for extortion also charged with illegal possession of firearms

Manila, Philippines - A Batangas policeman arrested on Monday for allegedly extorting P50,000 from a housewife in return for the not arresting her husband who has a pending arrest warrant for drug possession was into more trouble.

Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr., director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group ordered the filing of an additional illegal possession of firearms charge against the suspect, PO2 Lito Maranan, 31, after it turned out that the .45 caliber pistol recovered from him during his arrest was unlicensed.

Earlier, the CIDG filed robbery-extortion charges against Maranan and his companion PO1 Bonapart Convento based on the complaint of Jeannete Hernandez, 39. Convento is now under the custody of his superiors at the Bauan municipal police station.

Pagdilao said Maranan and Convento appeared at the residence of the complainant in Barangay Aplaya last April 21 to serve an arrest warrant against her husband, Jessy, for violation of the anti-drug law.

The two policemen demanded P50,000 from Hernandez in exchange for the non-arrest of her husband.

After a brief negotiation, the amount was reduced to P30,000. That same day, Hernandez gave $100 as down payment which she borrowed from her neighbor.

The two policemen gave her a May 9 deadline to come up with the balance or her husband be thrown behind bars.

Unable to raise the money, Hernandez sought the help of Bauan Mayor Ryahn Dolor, who immediately referred her to Senior Superintendent Rosauro Acio, Batangas police provincial director.

Maranan was arrested after accepting the P25,000 marked money at a gasoline station in Barangay Calicanto in Batangas City.

He yielded an unlicensed .45 caliber pistol.