3 Caloocan cops held for extorting from inmates’ kin

MANILA, Philippines — Three police officers in Caloocan City were arrested on Saturday for allegedly demanding visitation fees from the relatives of detainees.

The officers were collared by personnel of the police Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) in an entrapment operation.

Among those arrested was the custodial supervisor of the police station’s detention facility with the rank of major and his subordinates, a master sergeant and a patrolman.

They are facing cases of robbery, extortion and grave coercion.

The IMEG conducted the operation following complaints from the relatives of two detainees.

In cahoots with the jail’s “mayor,” the police officers allegedly extorted P1,500 each from the relatives of detainees.

The fees cover the entry of the inmates’ visitors, access to the waiting area, and “mandatory” food for detainees.

The suspects were apprehended after the jail “mayor” received P4,400 in marked money from the inmates’ visitors.

The police personnel were brought to the IMEG headquarters at Camp Crame for investigation.

Last week, seven police officers from Parañaque were arrested after they allegedly extorted P100,000 from a Chinese businessman whom they apprehended at a checkpoint.